Dow Jones Closes at Nearly Four-Year High

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at its highest level in nearly four years on Thursday, February 16, amid positive signs about the U.S. economy and a potential bright spot in the Greek debt issue.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Dow gained 123.13 points or 1 percent, marking the most significant one-day rise in two weeks. The index is now less than 100 points away from the 13,000 last reached in May 2008.

Additionally, the index has climbed higher for 34 days with no triple-digit declines, which is the longest such period in more than one year.

The news source reports investors were reacting to news that U.S. weekly jobless claims fell to their lowest level since March 2008 last week, while manufacturing activity continued to grow last month. Investors are also confident that a Greek deal could be imminent, according to the Journal.

"We're getting this incredible flow of good data," Jim Paulsen, chief investment officer at Wells Capital Management in Minneapolis, told Reuters. "It's hard not to want to step into the market."