US stocks post gains after robust China trade data

US stocks scored solid gains Thursday after stronger-than-expected Chinese trade data boosted growth hopes for the world's second-biggest economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 80.79 points (0.60 percent) at 13,471.30 in closing trade. The broad-based S&P 500 advanced 11.08 (0.76 percent) to 1,472.10, while the Nasdaq Composite increased 15.95 (0.51 percent) to 3,121.76. China said that in December, exports and imports hit new single-month highs, rising 14.1 percent to $199.2 billion and six percent to $167.6 billion, respectively. Market sentiment improved "following a much stronger-than-expected Chinese trade report and a relatively upbeat tone from European Central Bank President Mario Draghi," Charles Schwab & Co analysts said.