Investing.com - U.S. stocks opened higher on Thursday, after positive U.S. jobless claims data, while speculation over a possibe near-term end to the Federal Reserve's stimulus program persisted.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.43%, the S&P 500 index gained 0.45%, while the Nasdaq Composite index added 0.22%.
Official data showed U.S. initial jobless claims stayed close to the lowest level since January 2008 last week.
The Labor Department said the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week rose by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 333,000, while claims for the previous week were revised up to 328,000 from 326,000.
But investors remained cautious after two senior Fed officials said Tuesday that they would not rule out the withdrawal of stimulus measures at the bank’s September meeting.
In the tech sector, Apple added 0.29% amid reports it is trying to force Samsung Electronics' mobile devices out of U.S. stores a week after dodging an iPhone 4 ban by a rare White House veto.
Adding to gains, Groupon skyrocketed 24.08%, after naming on Wednesday Eric Lefkofsky as chief executive officer, entrusting the future of the struggling daily-deals company to a controversial co-founder.
Meanwhile, financial stocks were broadly higher, as shares in Bank of America rallied 1.10% and Citigroup jumped 1.04%, while JP Morgan climbed 0.51%.
Earlier in the day, JP Morgan announced that it is under federal criminal investigation for practices tied to sales of mortgage-backed bonds that the Justice Department has already concluded broke civil laws.
Elsewhere, McDonald's edged up 0.07% after the fast-food giant posted July same-store sales that rose 0.7%, edging past expectations, as stronger-than-expected sales in the U.S. helped offset weakness in Europe.
On the downside, Aeropostale tumbled 1.70% after the retailer said same-store sales in the second quarter plunged 15%.
Other stocks likely to be in focus included Lions Gate Entertainment, Nvidia and Priceline.com, scheduled to post results after the closing bell.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 advanced 0.91%, France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.68%, Germany's DAX gained 0.83%, while Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.55%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.31%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index plummeted 1.59%.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.43%, the S&P 500 index gained 0.45%, while the Nasdaq Composite index added 0.22%.
Official data showed U.S. initial jobless claims stayed close to the lowest level since January 2008 last week.
The Labor Department said the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week rose by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 333,000, while claims for the previous week were revised up to 328,000 from 326,000.
But investors remained cautious after two senior Fed officials said Tuesday that they would not rule out the withdrawal of stimulus measures at the bank’s September meeting.
In the tech sector, Apple added 0.29% amid reports it is trying to force Samsung Electronics' mobile devices out of U.S. stores a week after dodging an iPhone 4 ban by a rare White House veto.
Adding to gains, Groupon skyrocketed 24.08%, after naming on Wednesday Eric Lefkofsky as chief executive officer, entrusting the future of the struggling daily-deals company to a controversial co-founder.
Meanwhile, financial stocks were broadly higher, as shares in Bank of America rallied 1.10% and Citigroup jumped 1.04%, while JP Morgan climbed 0.51%.
Earlier in the day, JP Morgan announced that it is under federal criminal investigation for practices tied to sales of mortgage-backed bonds that the Justice Department has already concluded broke civil laws.
Elsewhere, McDonald's edged up 0.07% after the fast-food giant posted July same-store sales that rose 0.7%, edging past expectations, as stronger-than-expected sales in the U.S. helped offset weakness in Europe.
On the downside, Aeropostale tumbled 1.70% after the retailer said same-store sales in the second quarter plunged 15%.
Other stocks likely to be in focus included Lions Gate Entertainment, Nvidia and Priceline.com, scheduled to post results after the closing bell.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 advanced 0.91%, France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.68%, Germany's DAX gained 0.83%, while Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.55%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.31%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index plummeted 1.59%.