U.S. stocks finished slightly higher Thursday, with major indexes rising for a third straight session as investors looked past data showing a rise in first-time claims for unemployment benefits last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose around 25 points, or 0.1%, to close near 34,823, according to preliminary figures. The S&P 500 gained around 9 points, or 0.2%, to finish near 4,368, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced around 53 points, or 0.4%, ending near 14,685.
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