New York  - US stocks rose on Thursday as oil prices jumped to their highest level in six months, leading a rally in energy shares.

The price of crude oil rose above 65 dollars per barrel in New York trading before settling at 64.11 dollars - up 1.6 per cent - at the end of the session.

The banking sector posted gains as investors turned back to long- term government bonds, one day after a spike in yields was largely blamed for a sell-off on Wall Street.

The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 103.78 points, or 1.25 per cent, to 8,403.8. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 13.77 points, or 1.54 per cent, to 906.83. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index was up
20.71 points, or 1.2 per cent, to 1,751.79.

The US currency dropped against the euro to 71.67 euro cents from 72.08 euro cents. The dollar was up against the Japanese currency to 96.81 yen from 95.29 yen. (dpa)