US equity markets opened slightly advanced on Thursday, following the better-than-expected data on durable goods orders and initial jobless claims. At the open of the North American trading session, Standard & Poor's 500 Index grew 0.06% to 2,091.70 points. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index added 0.09%, opening at 17,868.25, and the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.08%, starting at 4,898.80 points.