Investing.com - U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Thursday, after relatively negative U.S. economic reports lessened expectations for the Federal Reserve to scale down in bond-buying program in the near future.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.10%, the S&P 500 index added 0.18%, while the Nasdaq Composite index rose 0.30%.
The Department of Labor said the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. rose by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 354,000 last week, compared to expectations for a decline of 4,000 to 340,000.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said U.S. first quarter gross domestic product was revised down to 2.4% from a preliminary reading of 2.5%. Analysts had expected an unchanged reading.
However, the report showed that personal spending rose 3.4% in the first quarter, up from a preliminary estimate of 3.3%.
Clearwire skyrocketed 21.24% after Dish Network raised its buyout offer for the wireless service provider to USD4.40 per share, valuing the company at USD6.5 billion and topping a rival bid by Sprint Nextel by nearly 30%.
In the same sector, Google edged up 0.02%after the Financial Times reported that the company is preparing an attack on Apple's iPhone, with a device that is more aware of its surroundings and smart enough to anticipate how it will be used next.
Among energy-linked companies, NV Energy soared 22.72% after a unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said it will pay USD5.6 billion for the electric utility, which serves Las Vegas and its casinos.
On the downside, Alcoa retreated 0.98% as Moody’s Investors Service cut its rating on the aluminum producer's debt to one level below investment grade.
Financial stocks added to losses, as shares in Bank of America slipped 0.15% and JP Morgan fell 0.22%, while Goldman Sachs tumbled 1.02%. Citigroup overperformed on the other hand, adding 0.11%.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 added 0.23%, France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.53%, Germany's DAX advanced 0.38%, while Britain's FTSE 100 inched 0.04% higher.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slid 0.31%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index plunged 5.15%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release data on pending home sales.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.10%, the S&P 500 index added 0.18%, while the Nasdaq Composite index rose 0.30%.
The Department of Labor said the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. rose by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 354,000 last week, compared to expectations for a decline of 4,000 to 340,000.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said U.S. first quarter gross domestic product was revised down to 2.4% from a preliminary reading of 2.5%. Analysts had expected an unchanged reading.
However, the report showed that personal spending rose 3.4% in the first quarter, up from a preliminary estimate of 3.3%.
Clearwire skyrocketed 21.24% after Dish Network raised its buyout offer for the wireless service provider to USD4.40 per share, valuing the company at USD6.5 billion and topping a rival bid by Sprint Nextel by nearly 30%.
In the same sector, Google edged up 0.02%after the Financial Times reported that the company is preparing an attack on Apple's iPhone, with a device that is more aware of its surroundings and smart enough to anticipate how it will be used next.
Among energy-linked companies, NV Energy soared 22.72% after a unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said it will pay USD5.6 billion for the electric utility, which serves Las Vegas and its casinos.
On the downside, Alcoa retreated 0.98% as Moody’s Investors Service cut its rating on the aluminum producer's debt to one level below investment grade.
Financial stocks added to losses, as shares in Bank of America slipped 0.15% and JP Morgan fell 0.22%, while Goldman Sachs tumbled 1.02%. Citigroup overperformed on the other hand, adding 0.11%.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 added 0.23%, France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.53%, Germany's DAX advanced 0.38%, while Britain's FTSE 100 inched 0.04% higher.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slid 0.31%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index plunged 5.15%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release data on pending home sales.