Stocks Opened Lower as Tech Fell

U.S. stocks opened lower on Thursday, amid a fall in technology stocks led by Apple. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately fell 90.42 points, or 0.39%, to 23,067.18. The S&P 500 lost 11.85 points, or 0.46%, to 2,549.41. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 60.90 points, or 0.92%, to 6,563.32.

Oil futures gave up early gains that had taken them to levels not seen since September on Thursday, as investors kept a wary eye on supply disruptions stemming from tensions in Iraq. November West Texas Intermediate crude was down 60 cents, or 1.2%, at $51.44 a barrel. December Brent crude was off 57 cents, or 1%, at $57.58 a barrel.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dropped to its lowest level in more than 44 years last week, pointing to a rebound in job growth after a hurricane-related decline in employment in September. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 222,000 for the week ended Oct. 14, the lowest level since March 1973, the Labor Department said.