Investing.com - U.S. stocks opened steady on Thursday, after official data showed that U.S. initial jobless claims fell to the lowest level since January 2008 last week, as investors locked in gains following a recent rally in U.S. equities.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 0.02%, the S&P 500 index dipped 0.04%, while the Nasdaq Composite index slipped 0.12%.
The Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, compared to expectations for an increase of 8,000 to 335,000.
Markets were jittery earlier, after official data released earlier showed that consumer prices in China rose 2.4% in April from a year earlier, above expectations for a 2.3% increase and accelerating from a 2.1% rate of increase in March.
The faster-than-expected increase in the rate of inflation dampened hopes policy makers in Beijing could introduce fresh easing measures to boost economic growth in the world’s second largest economy.
Among earnings, daily deals website Groupon posted revenue that was better than expected thanks to increased coupon sales through its mobile applications, sending shares up 12.70% at the open of the U.S. trading session.
Adding to gains, Tesla skyrocketed 21% after saying it topped market expectations, posting its first quarterly net profit since it was founded 10 years ago.
The electric car maker also said it expects to deliver 21,000 Model S cars worldwide, up 5% from its earlier target of 20,000.
Rupert Murdoch-led media company News Corp. saw shares rally 6.29%, after saying third-quarter profit beat analysts’ estimates on licensing fees for cable networks such as Fox News.
On the downside, Microsoft slid 0.69% following the nomination of Amy Hood as the tech company's first female chief financial officer. Hood is set to become CFO effective immediately, succeeding Peter Klein, according to a statement published on Wednesday.
Also in company news, Activision dove 4.75%, after Chief Executive Officer Bobby Kotick said "the risks and uncertainties in the back half of 2013 are more challenging than our earlier view, especially in the holiday quarter."
Other stocks in focus included Nvidia and Priceline.com, scheduled to report earnings after the closing bell.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 slipped 0.26%, France’s CAC 40 declined 0.48%, Germany's DAX added 0.16%, while Britain's FTSE 100 edged 0.16% higher.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index edged down 0.14%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index retreated 0.66%.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 0.02%, the S&P 500 index dipped 0.04%, while the Nasdaq Composite index slipped 0.12%.
The Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, compared to expectations for an increase of 8,000 to 335,000.
Markets were jittery earlier, after official data released earlier showed that consumer prices in China rose 2.4% in April from a year earlier, above expectations for a 2.3% increase and accelerating from a 2.1% rate of increase in March.
The faster-than-expected increase in the rate of inflation dampened hopes policy makers in Beijing could introduce fresh easing measures to boost economic growth in the world’s second largest economy.
Among earnings, daily deals website Groupon posted revenue that was better than expected thanks to increased coupon sales through its mobile applications, sending shares up 12.70% at the open of the U.S. trading session.
Adding to gains, Tesla skyrocketed 21% after saying it topped market expectations, posting its first quarterly net profit since it was founded 10 years ago.
The electric car maker also said it expects to deliver 21,000 Model S cars worldwide, up 5% from its earlier target of 20,000.
Rupert Murdoch-led media company News Corp. saw shares rally 6.29%, after saying third-quarter profit beat analysts’ estimates on licensing fees for cable networks such as Fox News.
On the downside, Microsoft slid 0.69% following the nomination of Amy Hood as the tech company's first female chief financial officer. Hood is set to become CFO effective immediately, succeeding Peter Klein, according to a statement published on Wednesday.
Also in company news, Activision dove 4.75%, after Chief Executive Officer Bobby Kotick said "the risks and uncertainties in the back half of 2013 are more challenging than our earlier view, especially in the holiday quarter."
Other stocks in focus included Nvidia and Priceline.com, scheduled to report earnings after the closing bell.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 slipped 0.26%, France’s CAC 40 declined 0.48%, Germany's DAX added 0.16%, while Britain's FTSE 100 edged 0.16% higher.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index edged down 0.14%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index retreated 0.66%.