U.S. Stocks End Lower On Waning Stimulus Hopes; Economic Data

U.S. markets closed Thursday's session lower after a Federal Reserve official downplayed the likelihood that the Federal Reserve would soon embark on additional stimulus. Adding more negative sentiment was an increase in jobless claims.

In an interview with CNBC, St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard said that the probability of the central bank offering stimulus is "not as high" as the financial markets would indicate.

Overall, economic data released today showed that America's economic recovery remains anemic. The Labor Department reported jobless claims were up this week, at 372,000, over consensus levels of 365,000 and over a prior level of 366,000. The increase pushed the four-week moving average to 368,000 from 363,750. The Markit PMI Manufacturing Flash Index came in at 51.9, up from a prior level of 51.8 and over consensus estimates of 51.0. The one bright spot was new home sales, which were up 372,000, over a prior level of 350,000 and topping consensus estimates of 362,000.

Commodities had a mixed session. After climbing for a few trading sessions, crude-oil for October delivery ended down 1.3% at $96.27 a barrel on profit taking. Gold futures soared to a four-month high, ending up 2%, to settle at $1,672.80 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Here's where the markets stood at end-of-day:

US MARKETS

Dow Jones Industrial Index down 115.30 (-0.88%) to 13,057.46

Nasdaq Composite Index down 20.27 (-0.66%) to 3,053.40

S&P 500 down 11.41 (-0.81%) to 1,402.08

GLOBAL SENTIMENT

FTSE 100 is up 2.40 (+0.04%) to 5776.60

DAX is down 68.18 (-0.97%) to 6949.57

CAC 40 is down 29.09 (-0.84%) to 3432.56

Nikkei 225 is up 46.38 (+0.51%) to 9178.12

Hang Seng Index is up 244.46 (+1.23%) to 20132.24

Shanghai China Composite Index is up 5.36 (+0.25%) to 2113.07

UPSIDE MOVERS

(+) ROSG, Started with New Coverage, Shares Soar on Huge Volume

(+) HAIN, to Acquire Premier Foods Portfolio

(+) PRST, to Be Acquired by American Industrial Partners' Affiliate

DOWNSIDE MOVERS

(+) BIG, Q2 EPS Miss, 2012 Guidance Revision

(+) IRF, Posts Q4 Loss, Beats on Revenues, Guides Q1 Revenues Below Street

(+) QSII, Board Election Fight Heats Up