Wall Street snaps up shares in late-day scramble

By Noel Randewich

(Reuters) - Wall Street moved higher on Thursday, adding momentum to a recent recovery as the energy and financial sectors emerged into positive territory for the year.

The S&P 500's increase was the most recent in four weeks of mostly steady gains that have left the index down 2.5 percent in 2016 after the worst January since 2009.

It was the second straight day that stocks strengthened late in the session, a pattern that some investors view as sign of improving sentiment. The S&P has gained in five out of the last seven sessions.

"That is a positive and I think there's reason to look at that with some hope,” said Andrew Bodner, president of Double Diamond Investment Group in Parsippany, New Jersey. But Bodner said he remains cautious following the market's recent volatility.

Earlier, a report showed that the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, but the underlying trend continued to point to a strengthening labour market.

Investors were also looking to Friday for a comprehensive labour report that is expected to show an addition of 190,000 jobs in February, up from a gain of 151,000 in January.

Brent crude prices, which are up about 35 percent from last month's lows, were largely steady.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended 0.26 percent higher at 16,943.56 points and the S&P 500 gained 0.35 percent to 1,993.39.