Stocks: U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Thursday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's October meeting hardened expectations of a December interest rate hike and data showed jobless claims fell.
The Dow Jones industrial average (DJI) rose 3.58 points, or 0.02 percent, to 17,740.74. The S&P 500 (SPX) gained 0.57 points, or 0.03 percent, to 2,084.15 and the Nasdaq Composite index (IXIC) added 3.87 points, or 0.08 percent, to 5,079.07.
Commodities: Oil prices reversed earlier gains to trade lower on Thursday, as lingering concerns over a glut in world markets drove down prices.
Crude oil for delivery in December on the New York Mercantile Exchange shed 51 cents, or 1.25%, to trade at $40.24 a barrel during U.S. morning hours. It earlier fell to $39.89, the lowest since August 27.
Meanwhile, the more actively traded January contract slumped 26 cents, or 0.62%, to $41.69.
Forex: The dollar pared losses against the other major currencies on Thursday, after data showed that the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. fell in line with expectations last week.
USD/JPY was down 0.35% at 123.20, but still close to Wednesday's three-month high of 123.75.
Economic Indicators: The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week, pointing to a fairly robust labor market.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 271,000 for the week ended Nov. 14, the Labor Department said on Thursday. The prior week's claims were unrevised.
Claims have now held below the 300,000 threshold for 37 consecutive weeks, the longest stretch in years, and are not too far from levels last seen in the early 1970s. Claims below this level are usually associated with a healthy jobs market.
Economic Indicators: Manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia-region in November grew for the first time in three months, supporting the case for a U.S. interest rate hike next month, official data showed on Thursday.
In a report, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said that its manufacturing index improved to 1.9 this month from October's reading of -4.5. Analysts had expected the index to rise to -1.0 in November.
Ask us about our FREE financial advice program: 
Other Top Stories:
Technical Analysis Lesson 1 - Introduction
How I Made Over $30,000 a Year by Investing in Binary Options
Follow us and SHARE this story on Facebook: 
