Investing.com - U.S. stock prices finished mixed to higher on Thursday after initial jobless claims came in better than forecast, though Apple earnings dampened the rally.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.33%, the S&P 500 index was unchanged, while the Nasdaq Composite index lost 0.74%.
The U.S. Department of Labor reported earlier that the number of people who filed for new unemployment claims last week fell to its lowest level since January 2008.
The number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits fell by 5,000 to 330,000, compared to expectations for an increase of 20,000 to 355,000. Jobless claims for the preceding week stood at 335,000.
The news sent stocks gaining despite weak quarterly results released by technology bellwether Apple, which reported fiscal-year first quarter earnings per share of USD13.81 and revenue of USD54.5 billion, figures that disappointed Wall Street.
Still, stocks pushed higher as earnings as a whole have come in better than expected.
Solid output data out of Europe bolstered equities prices in the U.S. as well.
Germany’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 48.8 in January from 46.0 in December, outpacing analysts' calls a 46.8 reading.
Germany’s service sector expanded at its fastest pace in more than a year, with the country's services PMI rising to 55.3 for January compared with 52.0 in December.
Meanwhile, the eurozone manufacturing PMI rose to a 10-month high and hit 47.5 in January from 46.1 in December, while the services PMI came in at 48.3 from 47.8 in December.
Both figures beat market analysts' forecasts.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included Cisco Systems, up 1.99%, Boeing, up 1.40%, and Home Depot, up 1.34%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Alcoa, down 1.20%, Intel, down 0.76%, and Verizon Communications, down 0.44%.
European indices, meanwhile, finished higher.
After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.54%, France's CAC 40 rose 0.70%, while Germany's DAX 30 finished up 0.53%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 finished up 1.09%.
On Thursday, the U.S. is to publish private sector data on existing home sales, a leading indicator of economic health.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.33%, the S&P 500 index was unchanged, while the Nasdaq Composite index lost 0.74%.
The U.S. Department of Labor reported earlier that the number of people who filed for new unemployment claims last week fell to its lowest level since January 2008.
The number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits fell by 5,000 to 330,000, compared to expectations for an increase of 20,000 to 355,000. Jobless claims for the preceding week stood at 335,000.
The news sent stocks gaining despite weak quarterly results released by technology bellwether Apple, which reported fiscal-year first quarter earnings per share of USD13.81 and revenue of USD54.5 billion, figures that disappointed Wall Street.
Still, stocks pushed higher as earnings as a whole have come in better than expected.
Solid output data out of Europe bolstered equities prices in the U.S. as well.
Germany’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 48.8 in January from 46.0 in December, outpacing analysts' calls a 46.8 reading.
Germany’s service sector expanded at its fastest pace in more than a year, with the country's services PMI rising to 55.3 for January compared with 52.0 in December.
Meanwhile, the eurozone manufacturing PMI rose to a 10-month high and hit 47.5 in January from 46.1 in December, while the services PMI came in at 48.3 from 47.8 in December.
Both figures beat market analysts' forecasts.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included Cisco Systems, up 1.99%, Boeing, up 1.40%, and Home Depot, up 1.34%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Alcoa, down 1.20%, Intel, down 0.76%, and Verizon Communications, down 0.44%.
European indices, meanwhile, finished higher.
After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.54%, France's CAC 40 rose 0.70%, while Germany's DAX 30 finished up 0.53%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 finished up 1.09%.
On Thursday, the U.S. is to publish private sector data on existing home sales, a leading indicator of economic health.