Stocks Opened Lower, Eyed on Health-care Vote

U.S. stocks opened lower on Thursday, with investors cautious in a day that may deliver a House vote on the health-care bill. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately slipped 10.00 points, or 0.05%, to 20,651.30. The S&P 500 was off 1.30 points, or 0.06%, to 2,347.15. The Nasdaq Composite fell 8.68 points, or 0.15%, to 5,812.96.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, but remained below a level associated with a strengthening labor market. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 258,000 for the week ended March 18, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

Crude prices erased earlier gains and headed lower on Thursday as focus shifted to the persistent oversupply that has weighed on prices in recent years. West Texas Intermediate futures for May lost 16 cents, or 0.3%, to $47.89 a barrel. Brent crude fell 15 cents, or 0.3%, to $50.49 a barrel.