(AP) NEW YORK Wall Street advanced in early trading Thursday, buoyed by the end of a trademark agreement between Apple Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. and more takeover news.

Investors, who largely pulled back in the previous session, were encouraged by a government report that showed the labor market remains resilient. Oil prices were a concern after surpassing $60 on questions about gasoline supplies in the summer.

The advance in U.S. markets followed a rally across world markets triggered by further signs of economic recovery in Japan. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock index reached its highest close in nearly seven years.

Apple rose after the personal computer and iPod maker settled with Cisco over the iPhone trademark. Also boosting technology stocks was chip maker Analog Devices Inc., which gave an optimistic outlook about improving business conditions.

There was also further encouragement about acquisition activity so far this year after Whole Foods Market Inc. said it will buy rival Wild Oats Markets Inc. in a $565 million deal.

In the first hour of trading, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 18.59, or 0.15 percent, to 12,757.00.

Broader stock indicators were also higher. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 3.78, or 0.26 percent, at 1,461.41, and the Nasdaq composite index added 12.73, or 0.51 percent, to 2,531.15.

Bonds weakened, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rising to 4.71 percent from 4.70 percent late Wednesday. The dollar was mixed against other major currencies, while gold prices fell.

Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 1.09 percent after the country's central bank raised interest rates in sign of confidence in Japan's long-suffering economy. In afternoon trading, Britain's FTSE 100 was up 0.67 percent, Germany's DAX index advanced 0.75 percent, and France's CAC-40 was up 0.57 percent.

Oil prices edged slightly higher as traders remained cautious ahead of U.S. government inventory data expected to show crude stockpiles rose. A barrel of light, sweet crude rose 4 cents to $60.03 in premarket trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Investors also were encouraged after the Labor Department said fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week after filings jumped in the prior week by the most since 2005. Jobless claims fell to 332,000.

Apple rose $1.33 to $90.53 after a deal with Cisco will allow it to use the iPhone name when it rolls out the new mobile telephone that is combined with a music player. Cisco rose 16 cents to $27.54.

Techs were also bolstered by semiconductors, which broadly advanced after Analog Devices said there are improving trends in some of its business segments. Shares surged $2.08, or 6.2 percent, to $35.40.

Whole Foods jumped $3.44, or 7.7 percent, to $49.14 after it backed its forecast for same-store sales growth between 6 percent and 8 percent. The company, which also unveiled its acquisition of Wild Oats, received a number of analyst upgrades before the opening bell.

Wild Oats share rose $2.68, or 17 percent, to $18.40.