US stock markets settled higher on Thursday, higher oil prices and ho-hum economic data that further dimmed expectations for an interest rate hike next week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average went up 177.71 points or 0.99 percent to settle at 18,212.48. NASDAQ 100 index rose 73.83 points or 1.56 percent to close at 4,819.90. The broader S&P 500 index gained 21.49 points or 1.01 percent to end at 2,147.26.