Lower Unemployment Claims Boost Stocks

Hemera/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- An encouraging weekly jobs report pushed stocks up Thursday.
 
The Dow closed up 123 points at 12,904 -- its highest mark since before the 2008 start of the U.S. financial crisis. The Nasdaq added 44 points Thursday to close at 2,960. The S&P closed at 1,358 -- a 15-point addition for the session.
 
First-time unemployment claims dropped last week to the lowest level in four years, to a seasonally-adjusted 348,000.  Claims consistently below 375,000 usually signals hiring is strong enough to lower the unemployment rate.
 
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