Wall St ends up

Stronger-than-expected data on US housing starts and jobless claims boost US stocks,pushing S&P 500 to 5-year high, its third day of gains

Dow Jones Industrial Average closed just short of a 5-year high, gaining 84.79 points, or 0.63 per cent, to close at 13,596.02.

S&P 500 climbed 8.31 points, or 0.56 per cent, to end at 1,480.94.

Nasdaq gained 18.46 points, or 0.59 percent, to end at 3,136.00.