US STOCKS SNAPSHOT – Uplifting Data Boosts Wall St at Open, By Reuters

U.S. stock markets experienced a positive start on Thursday, June 4, as a decline in jobless claims and an increase in productivity hinted at a potential easing of the recession.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 14.41 points, or 0.17 percent, reaching 8,689.69. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index increased by 3.47 points, or 0.37 percent, to 935.23, while the Nasdaq Composite Index saw an uptick of 6.14 points, or 0.34 percent, climbing to 1,832.06.