NEW YORK, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks closed mixed Thursday after two days of sell-off. Led by energy sector, the Dow Jones industrials rose more than 2 percent.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that new applications for unemployment benefits rose 15,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 478,000.

Dow Chemical Co., the largest U.S. chemical maker, reported third-quarter profit that topped analysts' estimates because of increase in product prices.

United Parcel Service Inc., the world's largest package-delivery company, said third-quarter profit fell 9.9 percent, but still beat analysts' forecast.

Altria Group Inc., the largest U.S. tobacco company, said third-quarter profit rose more than analysts' estimates on higher prices for cigarettes.

However, Amazon.com Inc., the world's largest Internet retailer, fell in early trading and dragged consumer shares lower, after the company said its full-year sales and operating income may be lower than its previous expectation.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 172.04, or 2.02 percent, to 8,691.25. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 11.33, or 1.26 percent, to 908.11, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 11.84, or 0.73 percent, to 1,603.91.
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