Stock index futures on Wall Street were little changed Thursday, the final day of the quarter, before the release of weekly jobless claims data that could give insight into the employment situation. þþOn Friday the Labor Department will release non-farm payroll figures in its March unemployment report. þþThe week has been marked by some of the year’s lowest volumes as traders opted to ride the quarter’s gainers amid global risks. The Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index is up 5.6 percent in the quarter, based on Wednesday’s close. þþNew claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, a government report showed, further evidence of improvement in the labor market. þþInitial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 388,000 the Labor Department said. þþEconomists polled by Reuters had forecast claims edging down to 380,000. The prior weeks figure was revised up to 394,000 from the previously reported 382,000. þþThe four-week moving average of unemployment claims — a better measure of underlying trends - rose 3,250 to 394,250. Claims have now held beneath the 400,000 level that is generally associated with steady job growth for three weeks in a row. þþ“We’re in a bit of a pause as we wait for the important claims number,” said Rick Meckler, president of the investment firm LibertyView Capital Management in New York. þþ“Though this won’t necessarily echo the payroll number, if claims are very bearish a lot of people will reconsider about what to expect tomorrow. If this is disappointing, a lot of people may use it as an excuse to step back.” þþDavid Sokol, the man widely seen as the leading successor to Warren Buffett to head up Berkshire Hathaway, resigned. Berkshire’s Class B shares fell 2.4 percent to $83.42 in premarket trading. þþS.& P. 500 futures fell 0.6 point and were about even with fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures added 8 points and Nasdaq 100 futures slid 0.25 point. þþFebruary factory orders data will be released at 10 a.m. after the market opens. Factory orders are seen rising by a smaller amount than in the previous month. þþMarch data for the Chicago Purchasing Managers Index, which covers Midwest business activity, will also be released. þþMicrosoft filed a formal complaint with the European Commission, claiming Google systematically thwarts Internet search competition. þþThe Macau unit of Las Vegas Sands said it is being investigated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission for alleged regulatory violations. Shares of Las Vegas Sands fell 5.4 percent to $41.14 before the bell. þþStocks rose for a second session on Wednesday with activity dominated by some of the strongest-performing groups in the first quarter, including energy and small-cap stocks. þþ
Source: NY Times
