At 12:30 GMT, the US Department of Labor showed that the unemployment claims were at 332K during the week ending in September 10, worse than forecasts of 325K, and worse than the previous reading of 312K. This data is negative for the US dollar.

US stock indices fell in early trading on Thursday, despite the release of positive retail sales data.

The US Department of Labor revealed that the number of initial unemployment claims was at 332K last week from 325K, lower than forecasts of 332K.

The US retail sales index rose 0.7% in August, beating forecasts of a drop by 0.7%.

The core retail sales reading (excluding food and fuel prices) rose 1.8%, beating forecasts of a drop by 0.1%.

As for stocks, Dow Jones fell 0.5% or 166 points to 34,654 as of 14:24 GMT, and S&P 500 fell 0.6% or 26 points to 4,454, while Nasdaq fell 0.6% or 89 point to 15,072.

Oil prices continued to fall as the US market opened on Thursday, and gave up a 6-week high on profit-taking, while on track for the first loss in 5 days, while the US dollar rose against its peers.

US crude fell 0.9% to $71.99 barrel, after opening at $72.63, and hit a high at $72.97, and Brent crude fell more than 0.6% to $74.90 a barrel, after opening at $75.40, and hit a high at $75.86.

The US crude gained 2.6% yesterday, the fourth daily gain in a row, and hit a 6-week high at $73.11, and Brent rose 2.1%, and hit the highest since July 29 at $76.10.

The dollar index rose over 0.35% today against a basket of major rivals, which weighs down on dollar-denominated commodities prices.

The Energy Information Administration reported yesterday that the US crude inventories fell 6.4 million barrels, during the week ending September 10, while analysts forecasts a drop by 3.6 million barrels.

The total commercial inventories fell to the lowest level since the week ending on September 6, 2019 at 417.48 million barrels, in a positive sign of the US demand levels.

While the US output rose 100,000 barrels last week, with the total at 10.1 million barrels per day, a less-than-expected rise, as producers in the Gulf of Mexico are still suffering from Hurricane Ida's damages.

Oil prices fell on Thursday, and gave up a 6-week high on profit-taking, while on track for the first loss in 5 days, but oil's losses are being curbed after data showed a large drop in the US crude inventories.

US crude fell 0.4% to $72.36 barrel, after opening at $72.63, and hit a high at $72.97, and Brent crude fell more than 0.2% to $75.24 a barrel, after opening at $75.40, and hit a high at $75.86.

The US crude gained 2.6% yesterday, the fourth daily gain in a row, and hit a 6-week high at $73.11, and Brent rose 2.1%, and hit the highest since July 29 at $76.10.

The Energy Information Administration reported yesterday that the US crude inventories fell 6.4 million barrels, during the week ending September 10, while analysts forecasts a drop by 3.6 million barrels.

The total commercial inventories fell to the lowest level since the week ending on September 6, 2019 at 417.48 million barrels, in a positive sign of the US demand levels.

While the US output rose 100,000 barrels last week, with the total at 10.1 million barrels per day, a less-than-expected rise, as producers in the Gulf of Mexico are still suffering from Hurricane Ida's damages.