Investing.com – U.S. stock markets were modestly higher after the open on Thursday, after the release of upbeat data on initial jobless claims, however gains were limited after oil prices spiked to a 30-month high as unrest in Libya continued.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average eased up 0.05%, the S&P 500 index was up 0.04%, while the Nasdaq Composite index climbed 0.27%.
Earlier in the day, U.S. Department of Labor said that the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell more-than-expected, dropping to a seasonally adjusted 391K, beating expectations for a drop to 405K.
Meanwhile, shares in Priceline.com soared 8.49% after it lifted its full year earnings outlook after markets closed on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Deutsche Bank upgraded the stock to ‘buy’ and raised its price target by 9%.
The largest U.S. automaker General Motors saw shares add 0.52% after it reported fourth quarter revenue of USD36.9 billion, exceeding expectations for revenue of USD34.3 billion.
However, shares in airliners were broadly lower as crude oil prices surged past USD100 for the first time since October 2008 amid fears over a disruption to supplies from Libya, which holds Africa’s largest crude oil reserves.
Delta Airlines saw shares drop 2.54%, shares in rival US Airways lost 1.53%, while JetBlue saw shares slump 1.34%.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 added 0.10%, France’s CAC 40 gained 0.34%, Germany's DAX slipped 0.31%, while Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.31%.
Earlier Thursday, government data showed that U.S. durable goods orders rose less-than-expected in January, while core durable goods orders, which exclude transportations items, tumbled unexpectedly.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish official data on new home sales.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average eased up 0.05%, the S&P 500 index was up 0.04%, while the Nasdaq Composite index climbed 0.27%.
Earlier in the day, U.S. Department of Labor said that the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell more-than-expected, dropping to a seasonally adjusted 391K, beating expectations for a drop to 405K.
Meanwhile, shares in Priceline.com soared 8.49% after it lifted its full year earnings outlook after markets closed on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Deutsche Bank upgraded the stock to ‘buy’ and raised its price target by 9%.
The largest U.S. automaker General Motors saw shares add 0.52% after it reported fourth quarter revenue of USD36.9 billion, exceeding expectations for revenue of USD34.3 billion.
However, shares in airliners were broadly lower as crude oil prices surged past USD100 for the first time since October 2008 amid fears over a disruption to supplies from Libya, which holds Africa’s largest crude oil reserves.
Delta Airlines saw shares drop 2.54%, shares in rival US Airways lost 1.53%, while JetBlue saw shares slump 1.34%.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 added 0.10%, France’s CAC 40 gained 0.34%, Germany's DAX slipped 0.31%, while Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.31%.
Earlier Thursday, government data showed that U.S. durable goods orders rose less-than-expected in January, while core durable goods orders, which exclude transportations items, tumbled unexpectedly.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish official data on new home sales.