U.S. stocks edged up at the open on Thursday as investors brushed off tepid economic data and focused on buying beaten-down shares after a drop of more than 5 percent for the S&P 500 this month.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 21.00 points, or 0.17%, to 12,517.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 2.88 points, or 0.22%, to 1,321.74. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 5.25 points, or 0.18%, to 2,855.37.
