US STOCKS-S&P tops 1,500 on data; record Dow close

(Updates to 4 p.m.)

NEW YORK, May 3 (Reuters) - The Standard & Poor's 500 index topped 1,500 for the first time since September 2000 on Thursday after a series of indicators showed signs of strength in the economy.

The Dow industrials rose to its third record close in as many days.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 29.90 points, or 0.23 percent, at 13,241.78. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 6.45 points, or 0.43 percent, at 1,502.37. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 7.62 points, or 0.30 percent, at 2,565.46.