Major stock indices closed above zero, supported by data on the US labor market. Thus, the number of Americans applying for first time unemployment benefits rose slightly last week after touching a 15-year low, but the rate remains at the level of the economy, consistently adding jobs. Primary applications for unemployment benefits, the gauge of layoffs throughout the US economy increased by 3000 and reached a seasonally adjusted 265,000 in the week ended May 2nd. Economists expected 280,000 initial claims last week.

The market's attention is directed to Takeo April data on unemployment in the US, which will be released on Friday. According to experts, the number of jobs in the US economy in the past month increased by 224 ths., And the unemployment rate fell to 5.4% from 5.5%.

"The signals that market participants have seen in the past few days have been different directions, - said the chief investment officer at Philadelphia Trust Co. Richard Sishel. - Recent statistical data proved to be rather disappointing, so the performance of the labor market, which will be released on Friday, are worthy of attention more than usual. "

Oil prices fell moderately, while dropping below $ 66 (Brent) and $ 59 (WTI), which is due to profit-taking after the recent increase to the maximum this year, and the strengthening of the US dollar. In the course of yesterday's trading continues to affect data on oil reserves in the United States. Recall the week April 25 - May 1 volume of commercial oil stocks in the United States fell by 3.9 million barrels to 487 million barrels per day. Analysts had expected growth of reserves by 1.1 million barrels per day.

Most components of the index DOW closed in positive territory (24 of 30). Outsider shares were Caterpillar Inc. (CAT, -0.82%). More rest up shares The Home Depot, Inc. (HD, + 1.71%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P finished trading above zero. Most of the services sector grew (+ 0.8%). Outsiders were the basic materials sector (-1.2%).

At the close:

Dow + 0.46% 17,924.06 +82.08

Nasdaq + 0.53% 4,945.55 +25.91

S & P + 0.38% 2,088.00 +7.85

Major U.S. stock-indexes growth on Thursday as better-than-expected U.S. jobs data led to U.S. Number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose marginally last week, staying near a 15-year low in a sign that the labor market continues to strengthen despite moderate economic growth.

Most of the Dow stocks are trading in positive area (22 of 30). Top looser - Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM, -0.69%). Top gainer - The Home Depot, Inc. (HD, +1.59%).

Almost all S&P index sectors in positive area. Top giner - Services (+0,7%). Top looser - Basic materials (-1.3%).

At the moment:

Dow 17865.00 +87.00 +0.49%

S&P 500 2082.75 +8.50 +0.41%

Nasdaq 100 4395.00 +22.00 +0.50%

10-year yield 2.21% -0.03

Oil 59.70 -1.23 -2.02%

Gold 1183.00 -7.30 -0.61%

Stock indices closed mixed on a weaker euro and as a selloff of government bonds eased. The euro fell against the greenback after the number of initial jobless claims. The number of initial jobless claims in the week ending May 02 in the U.S. climbed by 3,000 to 265,000 from 262,000 in the previous week, beating expectations for a rise by 18,000.

The uncertainty around today's parliamentary elections in the U.K. also weighed on markets. The win of the Conservatives is expected to have a negative impact on the pound as the Conservatives want to carry out a referendum on Britain's membership in the European Union (EU). The Labour Party said that the Britain's exit from the EU will be a catastrophe for the U.K. The Labour Party has promised to reduce the budget deficit.

German seasonal adjusted factory orders jumped 0.9% in March, missing expectations for a 1.5% increase, after a 0.9% drop in February.

Industrial production in France fell 0.3% in March, missing expectations for a flat reading, after a 0.5% rise in February. February's figure was revised up from a flat reading.

The decline was driven by declines in the production of energy and water.

On a yearly basis, the French industrial production rose 1.3% in March, after a 1.2% gain in February. February's figure was revised down up a 0.3% rise.

France's merchandise trade deficit widened to €4.575 billion in March from €3.623 billion in February. February's figure was revised down from a deficit of €3.4 billion.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,886.95 -46.79 -0.67 %

DAX 11,407.97 +57.82 +0.51 %

CAC 40 4,967.22 -14.37 -0.29 %

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) released its consumer climate index for Switzerland on Thursday. The SECO consumer climate index remained unchanged at -6 in the first quarter.

The future economic expectations subindex rose to -8 in the first quarter from -12 in the fourth quarter.

The unemployment trends subindex declined to 51 in the first quarter from 52 in the fourth quarter.

The assessment of previous economic trends subindex dropped to -22 in the first quarter from +1 in the fourth quarter.

The price trends over the last twelve months plunged to -3 in the first quarter from +32 in the fourth quarter, while the future price trends subindex declined to +6 from +29.

The Atlanta Federal Reserve bank President Dennis Lockhart said on Wednesday that he thinks the interest rate hike in the middle of the year will be appropriate. But interest rates could be hiked at each monetary policy meeting, he added.

Lockhart wants to be sure that the weak economic growth in the first quarter was temporary before raising interest rates. He noted that higher consumer spending is needed for the solid economic growth.

The Atlanta Federal Reserve bank president pointed out that the April labour market data will be very important to gauge economic momentum in the second quarter.

Lockhart is a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee this year.

Statistics Canada released housing market data on Thursday. Building permits in Canada soared 11.6% in March, exceeding expectations for a 2.5% gain, after a 0.3% decline in February. It was the biggest increase since September 2014.

February's figure was revised up from a 0.9% fall.

The increase was partly driven by a rise in construction permits for multifamily homes in Ontario and British Columbia.

Building permits for non-residential construction jumped 22.1% in March, while permits in the residential sector rose 6.6%.

U.S. stock-index futures fell after the chair of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen, said yesterday that valuations in the stock market were "quite high."

Global markets:

Nikkei 19,291.99 -239.64 -1.23%

Hang Seng 27,289.97 -350.94 -1.27%

Shanghai Composite 4,112.86 -116.40 -2.75%

FTSE 6,879.09 -54.65 -0.79%

CAC 4,944.76 -36.83 -0.74%

DAX 11,346.34 -3.81 -0.03%

Crude oil $60.88 (-0.11%)

Gold $1180.70 (-0.81%)

(company / ticker / price / change, % / volume)

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Other:

Goldman Sachs (GS) initiated with a Overweight at Atlantic Equities

Walt Disney (DIS) reiterated at Buy at Argus, target raised from $115 to $123

Amazon (AMZN) reiterated at Outperform at Bernstein, target raised from $450 to $600

The U.S. Labor Department released its jobless claims figures on Thursday. The number of initial jobless claims in the week ending May 02 in the U.S. climbed by 3,000 to 265,000 from 262,000 in the previous week, beating expectations for a rise by 18,000.

The previous week's reading was the lowest reading since April 2000.

Initial jobless claims remained below 300,000 the ninth straight week. That could be interpreted as the strengthening of the labour market.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the Asia-Pacific region to expand at 5.6% year-over-year in 2015 and 5.5% in 2016. But the region faces risks like rising debts, a stronger dollar and weaker-than-expected performances from China and Japan, the IMF noted.

On the other side, low commodity prices, strong labour markets and recoveries in the U.S. and Europe will support the region, the IMF added.

According to the French Customs, France's trade deficit widened to €4.575 billion in March from €3.623 billion in February.

February's figure was revised down from a deficit of €3.4 billion.

The increase of a deficit was driven by energy imports and lower aerospace exports.

Imports rose due to strong recovery in energy and due to strong demand for automobiles, capital goods and intermediate goods, while exports increased due to higher sales of automotive, pharmaceuticals, metals and electrical and electronic equipment.

Stock indices traded lower, following U.S. and Asian stock indexes. U.S. and Asian stock indexes declined on comments by the Fed Chair Janet Yellen. Yellen said on Wednesday that valuations in the stock market are high and there is a potential risk there.

The uncertainty around today's parliamentary elections in the U.K. also weighed on markets. The win of the Conservatives is expected to have a negative impact on the pound as the Conservatives want to carry out a referendum on Britain's membership in the European Union (EU). The Labour Party said that the Britain's exit from the EU will be a catastrophe for the U.K. The Labour Party has promised to reduce the budget deficit.

German seasonal adjusted factory orders jumped 0.9% in March, missing expectations for a 1.5% increase, after a 0.9% drop in February.

Industrial production in France fell 0.3% in March, missing expectations for a flat reading, after a 0.5% rise in February. February's figure was revised up from a flat reading.

The decline was driven by declines in the production of energy and water.

On a yearly basis, the French industrial production rose 1.3% in March, after a 1.2% gain in February. February's figure was revised down up a 0.3% rise.

France's merchandise trade deficit widened to €4.575 billion in March from €3.623 billion in February. February's figure was revised down from a deficit of €3.4 billion.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,813.21 -120.53 -1.74%

DAX 11,192.22 -157.93 -1.39%

CAC 40 4,884.28 -97.31 -1.95%

Destatis released its factory orders data for Germany on Thursday. German seasonal adjusted factory orders jumped 0.9% in March, missing expectations for a 1.5% increase, after a 0.9% drop in February.

Domestic orders climbed by 4.3% in March, while foreign orders dropped by 1.65.

New orders from the Eurozone rose 2.5% in March, while orders from other countries decreased 4%.

The intermediate- and capital goods orders were up 0.9% and 1.3% in March. Consumer goods orders fell 2.2%.

The French statistical office Insee its industrial production figures on Thursday. Industrial production in France fell 0.3% in March, missing expectations for a flat reading, after a 0.5% rise in February. February's figure was revised up from a flat reading.

The decline was driven by declines in the production of energy and water.

On a yearly basis, the French industrial production rose 1.3% in March, after a 1.2% gain in February. February's figure was revised down up a 0.3% rise.

In the first quarter of 2015, industrial production grew 1.4%.

On a monthly basis, manufacturing output in France rose 0.3% in March, after a 0.5% gain in February.

Construction output climbed 0.9% in March from the previous year, after a 2.2% decrease in February.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Wednesday that the annual rate of inflation in its 34 members remained unchanged at 0.6% in March. The inflation target of most central banks in developed economies is 2%.

The inflation was driven by lower energy prices. Food prices increased.

The inflation excluding energy and food for the OECD area remained unchanged at 1.7%.

The Swiss National Bank's foreign exchange reserves decreased to 521.888 billion Swiss francs in April from 522.399 billion francs in March. It was the first monthly decline in 2015.

March's figure was revised up from 522.323 billion francs.

The decrease was likely driven by a weaker U.S. dollar.

The European Union (EU) Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said on Wednesday that Eurozone have to find a way to deal with the high public debt accumulated in 2008-2012. But he didn't say how to do it.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released its labour market data on Thursday. Australia's unemployment rate rose to 6.2% in April from 6.1% in March, in line with expectations.

The number of employed people in Australia fell by 2,900 in April, missing expectations for an increase by 5,000, after a gain by 48,100 in March.

March's figure was revised up from a rise by 37,700.

The decline in employment was driven by declines in full-time employment for males, which fell by 47,900, and part-time employment for females, which decreased by 10,700.

Full-time employment fell by 21,900, while part-time employment rose by 19,000.

The participation rate was 64.8%.

These figures might add pressure on the Reserve Bank of Australia to lower its interest rate again.

(index / closing price / change items /% change)

Hang Seng 27,640.91 -114.63 -0.41%

S&P/ASX 200 5,692.2 -134.36 -2.31%

Shanghai Composite 4,231.33 -67.37 -1.57%

FTSE 100 6,933.74 +6.16 +0.09%

CAC 40 4,981.59 +7.52 +0.15%

Xetra DAX 11,350.15 +22.47 +0.20%

S&P 500 2,080.15 -9.31 -0.45%

NASDAQ Composite 4,919.64 -19.68 -0.40%

Dow Jones 17,841.98 -86.22 -0.48%