Stocks Open Higher after Jobless Claims Data

U.S. stocks opened higher on Thursday after data showed a decline in weekly jobless claims. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately
rose 28.38 points, or 0.17%, to 16,491.12 and the S&P 500 gained 4.11 points, or 0.22%, to 1,841.60. The Nasdaq Composite climbed
12.55 points, or 0.30%, to 4,178.16.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last week fell slightly more than expected, pointing to an
economy that was continuing to gain steam. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits declined 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted
330,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

The European Central Bank left interest rates at a record low on Thursday, holding off fresh action for now while it assesses
whether it needs to respond to cost-of-living numbers weak enough to raise concerns about deflation.

Promotions and discounts offered by U.S. retailers drove a 2.7 percent rise in holiday season sales despite six fewer days and a
cold snap that kept shoppers from stores, retail industry tracker ShopperTrak said.

Merge Healthcare Inc, a medical imaging software provider, said a former employee falsified contracts, forcing it to cut its backlog
of orders by more than $15 million.