(Reuters) – U.S. stocks rose at the open on Thursday after the European Central Bank announced expanded measures to stimulate the region’s economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 71.79 points, or 0.41 percent, to 17,626.07, the S&P 500 <.SPX> gained 8.93 points, or 0.44 percent, to 2,041.05 and the Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> added 25.44 points, or 0.54 percent, to 4,692.86.

(Reporting By Sinead Carew; Editing by Nick Zieminski)