NEW YORK, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) — U.S. stocks ended higher on Thursday as investors parsed the latest economic data and assessed the Federal Reserve’s future policy trajectory.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 108.82 points, or 0.33 percent, to 33,153.91. The S&P 500 added 21.27 points, or 0.53 percent, to 4,012.32. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 83.33 points, or 0.72 percent, to 11,590.4.

Seven of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in green, with technology and energy up 1.63 percent and 1.27 percent, respectively, outpacing the rest. Communication services slipped 0.66 percent, the worst-performing group.

The above market reactions came as fresh U.S. economic data reinforced expectations that the Fed will need to hike rates further.

The U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday that the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell by 3,000 to 192,000 in the week ending Feb. 18. The reading marked the lowest in three weeks, signaling a still very tight labor market. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had estimated new claims would rise to 197,000.

The minutes from the Fed’s Jan. 31-Feb. 1 policy meeting released Wednesday indicated more rate rises going forward.

With inflation still “well above” the Fed’s 2 percent goal and the labor market remaining “very tight,” Fed members continued to anticipate that ongoing increases in the target range for the federal funds rate would be appropriate, said the minutes.

The January U.S. personal consumption expenditures index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, is scheduled for release on Friday.