S&P 500 rises to a record after better-than-expected jobless claims, Dow climbs 100 points

The S&P 500 climbed to an all-time high on Thursday after weekly jobless claims came in slightly better than expected. The broad equity benchmark added 0.4% to hit an all-time high on pace for its 54th record closing high of 2021. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 100 points, lifted by Apple and Chevron. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.4%, also hitting a record.

First-time claims for unemployment insurance totaled 340,000 for the week ended August 28, versus a Dow Jones expectation of 345,000. The number is also the lowest since March 2020 at the height of the Covid crisis. The data came in a day before the key August jobs report, which investors are watching closely to decipher how fast the Federal Reserve will remove easy monetary policy. Economists predict 720,000 jobs were added in the month, down from 943,000 jobs added in July.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has emphasized the need for more strong jobs data before the central bank would start to unwind its massive bond-buying program, putting heightened focus on Friday’s employment report. On Thursday, Chewy and Five Below were among the notable movers with shares tumbling 9% and 8%, respectively, after reporting quarterly results. Shares of ChargePoint, the maker of charge systems for electric vehicles, jumped 12% after reporting stellar quarterly earnings.

Wall Street started out September trading with muted action on Wednesday with the S&P 500 closing near the flat line. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.3% to eke out a record. While September has been among the seasonally weakest months of the year, many hold a constructive view on the market as the technical backdrop remains solid and the economic reopening from the pandemic continues.

S&P 500 rises to a record after better-than-expected jobless claims, Dow climbs 100 points, CNBC, Sep 3