US markets gain as jobless claims fall near five-year low

26 Apr 2013 Evaluate

The US markets edged higher on Thursday, buoyed by corporate-earnings reports and sharp drop in weekly jobless claims. The market maintained positive momentum for most of the day after the Labor Department reported that the number of people who applied last week for new unemployment benefits fell near a five-year low, though the decline probably reflected temporary distortions that often occur after the Easter holiday and not a marked improved in the US labor market. Initial jobless claims dropped by 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 339,000 in the week ended April 20. That’s the second lowest reading in 2013 and approached levels last seen in January 2008. Meanwhile, US companies are pulling back on borrowing, which could put a drag on the limping US economy and make it even harder for banks to break out of their long slump. The outstanding loans by the biggest banks to US companies declined 9% in the first two weeks of April compared with the end of March, according to Federal Reserve data. The slip followed a 2.7% rise in the first quarter, the smallest quarterly gain in two years.

In Europe, German business confidence fell to 104.4 in April from 106.7 a month earlier, the second straight decline, according to the Munich research institution, Ifo. The index for businesses current conditions dropped to 107.2 from 109.9 in March. In UK, economy is stuck in the longest peace time slump since at least 1920, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. UK barely averted a triple-dip expansion after the economy expanded at 0.3% annual rate in the March quarter. The GDP rose 0.6% compared to a year ago period as the government austerity measures cut spending and the island nation struggles to revive the job market but bloated defense expense and weak retail sales hamper the economy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 24.50 points or 0.17 percent at 14,700.80, the S&P 500 added 6.37 points or 0.40 percent to 1,585.16 and the Nasdaq added 20.33 points or 0.62 percent to 3,289.99.

Indian ADRs closed mostly in green on Thursday, Dr. Reddy’s Lab was up 1.13%, Tata Motors was up 0.62% and HDFC Bank was up by 0.15%. On the flip side, ICICI Bank was down by 0.16% and Wipro was down 0.12%.

© 2026 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×