today's data, 04-01-2010

Stocks were on pace for their best gains of the week Thursday afternoon, helped by new data showing that the economies of the U.S., Europe, and China are improving.
The prospects of continued global growth had oil extending a two-month rally, with crude-oil futures briefly topping $85 a barrel before closing just under that level. Gold futures surged $17.1 to end at $1129.1 an ounce.


The market was broadly boosted Thursday by a slightly larger-than-expected decline in weekly jobless claims. The Labor Department said in its weekly report that initial claims for jobless benefits declined by 6,000 to 439,000 in the week ended March 27. The previous week's level was revised upward to 445,000 from 442,000. Economists expected initial claims to decrease by 2,000.

(very Good Data)