Stocks Opened Firmly Higher, Oil Prices Jumped

U.S. stocks opened firmly higher on Thursday , as investors were focusing on surging oil prices after reports of a suspected attack on tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately gained 123.40 points, or 0.47%, to 26,128.23. The S&P 500 added 13.56 points, or 0.47%, to 2,893.40. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 49.32 points, or 0.63%, to 7,842.04.

Crude oil prices surged Thursday, after reports that two oil tankers had been attacked in the Gulf of Oman. West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery jumped $1.85, or 3.6%, to $52.98 a barrel. August Brent crude jumped $2.36, or nearly 4%, to $62.30 a barrel.