Stocks rose on Thursday as resurgent oil prices lifted energy shares and sentiment was underpinned by optimism about the Federal Reserve's push to lower borrowing costs.

General Electric said it expects its finance arm GE Capital to be profitable in the first quarter and the rest of this year. Shares in the parent company rose by 8.8 percent to $11.23.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 50.97 points, or 0.68 percent, to 7,537.55. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 7.33 points, or 0.92 percent, to 801.68. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 13.01 points, or 0.87 percent, to 1,504.23.

(Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)