Dow Jones Industrial Average index traded higher on Thursday as investors digested news about US employment and 0.7% price increase for US homes in December. Blue chip index climbed 0.36% or 46.02 points and closed at 12,984.69 with eight of nine industries posting gains. Procter& Gamble rallied 3% after company said it identified $10 billion in costs it can reduce from its global operations in four years through jobs elimination and cuts in cost of goods. Hewlett Packard provided the main downward contribution to the index.