Wall St. ends largely lower

Wall Street closed Thursday largely lower after disappointing data from the U.S. showing a more-than-expected rise in unemployment claims, after other data yesterday showed a slump to three-year low in new private sector jobs.  Investors now wait for the official payrolls report tomorrow, expected to show an increase of 205 thousand jobs, while the unemployment rate is forecast to remain the same at 5.0%. 

Dow Jones closed down 0.05%, or 9.45 points at 17,660.71, while Standard and Poor's 500 inched down 0.02%, or 0.49 points to 2,050.63. NASDAQ Composite retreated 0.18%, or 8.55 points to 4,717.09. 

The dollar index, which gauges the U.S. currency's performance against a basket of six major rivals, rose to 93.77 from the opening of 93.23, with an intraday high at 93.86, and a low at 93.17. 

On another note, gold futures due on June 15 rose 0.31% to $1,278.30 an ounce from the opening price of $1,274.20, while U.S. crude futures due on June 16 jumped 1.44% to $44.41 a barrel from the opening price of $43.78. Brent crude futures due on June 15 added 1.12% to $45.12 a barrel, compared to the opening of $44.62.