U.S. stock indices rose on Thursday amid better-than-expected earnings reports and hints at more stimulus from European Central Bank President Mario Draghi.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 320.55, or 1.9%, to 17,489.16. The S&P 500 rose 33.57 points, or 1.7%, to 2,052.51 (nevertheless its health-care sector fell 0.5%). The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 77.55, or 1.6%, to 4,917.67.

Shares of eBay rose by about 14% on better-than-expected earnings.

The number of initial jobless claims in the U.S. rose by 3000 to 259,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis in the week ending October 17. The indicator is still at a historically low level.

Meanwhile the leading index for the U.S. economy released by the Conference Board declined by 0.2% in September to 123.3 (2010 = 100). The coincident index rose by 0.2% to 112.8.

This morning in Asia Hong Kong Hang Seng rose 1.34%, or 306.61, or 23,151.98. China Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.02%, or 0.69, to 3.369.43. The Nikkei gained 2.12%, or 390.06, to 18,825.93.

Asian indices rose following growth in U.S. stocks, which was triggered by ECB President's comments. Mario Draghi said the central bank will assess sufficiency of stimulus measures at the next meeting in December.

Japanese Manufacturing PMI from Nomura/JMMA rose to 52.5 in October (the best result in 18 months) from 51.00 reported previously. Economists had expected a reading of 50.6.