U.S. stocks traded higher on Sept. 18, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.60% at 51,773.24, the Nasdaq Composite rising 1.55% to 26,381.21 and the S&P 500 gaining 1.05% to 7,630.78. Information technology shares advanced 2.1%, while consumer staples fell 0.2%. Initial jobless claims declined by 10,000 to 196,000, below the 208,000 estimate, and pending home sales increased 0.3% in August after a revised 2.6% July decline. Aethlon Medical surged 390% after announcing an all-stock merger agreement with North Immunology, while ReTo Eco-Solutions fell 89% after pricing a $15 million share offering. European markets rose, Asian markets closed mixed and oil declined as precious and industrial metals gained.