US stocks closed mixed as investors weigh positive jobs data against stimulus stalemate

Lucas Jackson/Reuters

• US stocks traded mixed on Thursday after weekly unemployment claims dipped below 1 million for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic drove historic job losses.
• Claims for jobless benefits dropped to 963,000 for the week that ended on Saturday, the Labor Department said. The reading handily beat economists' estimate of 1.1 million claims.
• Investors continued to wait for progress in stimulus bill negotiations. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday rebuffed the White House's criticism of Democrats and said the party would resume talks when the administration starts "to take this process seriously."
• Oil declined slightly after the International Energy Agency cut demand forecasts for 2020 and 2021. West Texas Intermediate crude sank as much as 1.4%, to $42.09.
• Watch major indexes update live here.

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US equities closed mixed on Thursday as investors mulled weekly jobless claims data and a continued lack of progress in fiscal stimulus talks.

Claims for unemployment insurance fell to 963,000 for the week that ended on Saturday, the Labor Department said on Thursday. The reading landed well below the 1.1 million estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg.See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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