US, European stocks gain as ECB hints at more stimulus

European and US stocks staged a rebound Thursday on hints of additional European Central Bank stimulus and a rise in oil prices from 12-year lows. After plunging by 3.5 percent Wednesday, major European indices in Frankfurt, London and Paris shot up nearly two percent after the ECB signalled it stood ready to help if the economic outlook darkens further. In New York, the gains were less pronounced, with the S&P 500 climbing 0.5 percent behind strong gains in petroleum shares.