Major stock indexes were trading higher on Thursday on a raft of moderately better economic data and lower oil prices, which could bring some relief to consumers and help speed an economic recovery.
On Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average was trading 19.87 points, or 0.14%, higher at 12,838.37. The broader S&P 500 index inched up 3.26 points, or 0.24%, to 1,388.85. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index was up 28.25 points, or 1.17%, at 2,441.05.
The markets are still trying to make sense of the Federal Reserve's statement that accompanied its announcement Wednesday of another 25-basis-point easing in the Fed funds. Some economists read it as a signal that Bernanke & Co. has completed its easing campaign for the time being, while others aren't so sure. But the strengthening of the dollar on the back of some economic numbers Thursday was supporting a feeling of guarded optimism.
Leading Thursday's economic data, initial jobless claims rebounded 35,000 to 380,000 -- the median forecast was 355,000 -- in the week ended Apr. 26. Initial claims have revealed volatile swings over the last two months and this latest gain leaves initial claims back at the highest level since the Easter-distorted 406,000 figure for the week ended March 29, Action Economics said.
Continuing claims jumped 74,000 to 3.02 million after dropping 54,000 the previous week, which leaves the series above the 3.0 million level for the first time since April, 2004.
The Commerce Department reported a 0.4% rise in consumer spending in March, twice the gain that economists had predicted. Adjusted for inflation, however, spending was up a much weaker 0.1%, which shows the damaging effect higher gasoline prices are having on consumers.
Construction spending fell 1.1% in March, more than the median estimate of a 0.7% decline, wiping out the 0.4% increase seen in February. Thhis was the fifth consecutive drop in the past six months and was driven by a record 4.6% plunge in spending on housing.
The U.S. ISM manufacturing index held at 48.6 in April, just over the 48.0 that markets had expected. This is the fourth sub-50 reading in the last five months, indicating that manufacturing activity remains in contractionary territory. The employment index slipped to 45.4 from 49.2, while new orders held at 46.5. New export orders climbed further to 57.5 from 56.5. Inventories rose to 48.1 from 44.9. Prices paid rose to 84.5 from 83.5, continuing to indicate inflation in the pipeline.
June NYMEX crude continued to fall on Thursday, down another $1.17 per barrel at $112.29, likely on signs of firming in the dollar on some positive economic reports. A larger-than-expected 3.8 million barrel increase in crude inventories reported by the Energy Information Administration sent oil prices tumbling on Wednesday. Oil traders are also watching progress in Nigerian strike talks, said Action Economics.
Among the stocks in the news on Thursday, shares of Exxon Mobil (XOM) dropped 3.9% after the world's biggest publicly traded oil company posted $2.03 in first-quarter EPS, vs. $1.62 per share a year ago, on a 34% rise in revenue. Despite the higher profit, Exxon's report of lower refining and chemical margins, lower production volumes and higher operating costs didn't encourage investors.
Shares of JDS Uniphase (JDSU) fell after the company posted third-quarter non-GAAP EPS of 14 cents, vs. 6 cents one year earlier, on a 6.2% revenue rise. The company sees fourth-quarter revenue of $381-$403 million, with its operating margin in the range of 2%-5%.
Westlake Chemical (WLK) shares fell 17.4% after the company reported first quarter EPS of eight cents per share, vs. 30 cents a year ago, as lower margins resulting from significantly higher feedstock costs offset a 27% revenue gain. The company says it's concerned with the possibility of a recession, which could impact its ability to raise prices sufficiently to offset higher energy and feedstock costs.
Most European stock indexes were closed Thursday. In London, the FTSE 100 index gained 0.28% to trade at 6,104.20.
Asian indexes finished lower. Japan's Nikkei 225 index declined 0.32% to 13,849.99. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index fell 0.61% to 25,755.35.
Treasury Market
The 10-year note was higher at 98-09/32 for a yield of 3.718%, while the 30-year bond rose to 98-27/32 for a yield of 4.448%. Bond bulls regained confidence after the dollar dropped in response to market confusion about what the Fed's next move might be, Action Economics said.