At 12:30 GMT, the US Department of Labor showed that the unemployment claims were at 290K during the week ending in October 15, the lowest reading since March 2020, better than forecasts of 298K, and better than the previous reading of 296K. This data is positive for the US economy.

Most of the US stock indices edged lower in early trading on Thursday, despite the release of positive jobs data.

The US Department of Labor revealed that the number of initial unemployment claims fell to the lowest level since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic at 290K last week from 298K, and lower than forecasts of 296K.

Many major companies reported their quarterly business results for the third quarter, amid anticipation of Tesla and IBM's reports.

As for stocks, Dow Jones fell 0.1% or 51 points to 35,557 as of 13:53 GMT, and S&P 500 rose 0.1% or 1 point to 4,534, while Nasdaq rose 0.2% or 33 points to 15,155.

Oil prices continued to fall as the US market opened on Thursday, and pulled back from multi-year highs hit earlier due to profit-taking, to head for the first daily loss in 3 days, but today's loss is being curbed by signs on improved US demand.

US crude fell 1.1% to of $82.63 a barrel, after opening at $83.50, and hit a high and the highest since October 2014 at $83.93, and Brent crude fell 1.3% to $84.74 a barrel, after opening at $86.08, and hit a high and the highest since October 2018 at $86.08.

The US crude gained 1.3% yesterday, and Brent crude rose 0.9%, thanks to drop in the US crude inventories.

The Energy Information Administration reported yesterday that the US crude inventories fell 400K barrels during the past week, while analysts forecast a rise by 2.1 million barrels, a positive sign about improved demand and withdrawal.

While the US output fell 100,000 barrels last week, the first weekly drop in a month and a half, with the total at 11.3 million barrels per day.

The US dollar rose against a basket of currencies on Thursday, and rebounded from the 3-week low hit earlier, to head for the first daily gain in 7 days, thanks to strong demand amid renewed concerns about the Chinese company Evergrande, and ahead of the weekly unemployment claims data.

The dollar index rose 0.1% to 93.70 points, after opening at 93.49 points, and hit a low at 93.49 points.

The index ended yesterday's trading, down by 0.2%, in the sixth consecutive daily loss, following the statements of some members of the Federal Reserve.

 The index fell 0.2% yesterday, the sixth straight daily loss, following Federal Reserve members' remarks.

Two members of the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that while the Fed must start cutting its stimulus measures, it is too early for an interest rate hike.

Evergrande shares fell over 12% today, after the resumption of trading on the stock following more than two weeks of suspension, after the Chinese company announced on Wednesday that a deal to sell a 50.1% stake in its property services arm to Hobson had fallen through.

At 12:30 GMT, the unemployment claims for the week ending October 15 are expected to reach 298K from 293K in the previous week, which is the lowest reading since March 2020.