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US Wrap: Major U.S. stock averages climbed Thursday on optimism over an upbeat set of China trade numbers and hopeful comments on the eurozone economy. Support also came from comments by St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard that the U.S. economy may experience strong growth this year and the next, partly thanks to the central bank's policy easing.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 81 points, or 0.6%, to 13,471. The S&P 500 added 11 points, or 0.8%, to 1,472. The Nasdaq increased 16 points, or 0.5%, to 3,122. After the ECB meeting, the central bank's president Mario Draghi said he was expecting a gradual recovery in eurozone economic activity later this year as bond markets stabilize. "In particular, our accommodative monetary policy stance, together with significantly improved financial market confidence and reduced fragmentation, should work its way through to the economy, and global demand should strengthen," Draghi said. China, the world's second-largest economy, reported a strong rebound in exports in December, which reached a seven-month high.

Imports in the period rose
at a rate that was double what was anticipated. Gold for February delivery surged Thursday by $22.50 to settle at $1,678 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, while February crude oil contracts closed up 72 cents at $93.82 a barrel. The benchmark 10-year Treasury slid by 11/32 to raise the yield to 1.900%. The dollar was plummeting 1.05%, according to the U.S. dollar index.