U.S. share prices were sharply higher mid-afternoon Thursday, supported by dip buying and increased hopes for lower interest rates. But volumes, ahead of the Easter holiday, were very light. Dealers said economic data in the session, which pointed to continued softening, have further raised chances of an inter-meeting rate cut by the Federal Reserve, which next meets formally on May 15. The Dow industrials rose 113.47 or 1.13%, finishing at 10,126.94. The Nasdaq composite end up 3.29%, 62.48 points, to finish at 1,961.43.