Wall Street stabilizes ahead of all-important US payrolls data

US stock indices stabilized on Thursday with NASDAQ and S&P 500 remaining near recent record highs.

Earlier data showed US unemployment claims rose by 8 thousand to 229 thousand in the week ending  June 1, while analysts expected a drop to 219 thousand.

Now investors await the US payrolls report tomorrow, crucial for gauging the state of the economy and the likely path ahead for monetary policies. 

On trading, Dow Jones rose 0.1%, or 40 points as of 15:59 GMT TO 38,847, while S&P 500 stabilized at 5354, as NASDAQ slipped 0.1%, or 8 points to 17,178.