Dow Jones Industrial Average Hits New Record High Following Strong Wal-Mart Earnings

U.S. stocks opened higher on Thursday, despite a rise in weekly jobless claims, after strong quarterly results from retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a new record high. Wal-Mart posted earnings that beat Street forecasts, driven by a strong back-to-school shopping season, sending shares up over 3 percent, to $82.14, in morning trading.