Global stocks gain on Europe's easing worries, China growth talk

US stocks scored a second day of solid gains on Thursday, led by materials and energy stocks, as investors set aside weak figures on the domestic labour market.

Rumors about strong growth figures due overnight from China helped wash away some of the worries that hit stocks during a five-day streak of losses that ended with Wednesday's rebound.

The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 181.19 points, or 1.41 percent, to 12,986.58 at the close. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 18.86 points, or 1.38 percent, to 1,387.57. The Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 39.09 points, or 1.30 percent, to 3,055.55.

European shares enjoyed a late-session rally, with mining stocks propelling the index to a one-week closing high on trader talk that Chinese growth data could come in better than expected on Friday.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index ended up 10.39 points, or 1.0 percent, at 1,044.19, within a whisker of its session peak, in a day which saw it dip as low as 1,028.16.