Crude Oil Gains Over 1%; US Weekly Jobless Claims Increase

U.S. stocks traded higher midway through trading, with the Nasdaq Composite gaining more than 100 points on Thursday.

The Dow traded up 0.63% to 42,230.78 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.81% to 17,894.89. The S&P 500 also rose, gaining, 0.61% to 5,710.13.

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Leading and Lagging SectorsCommunication services shares rose by 1.4% on Thursday.

In trading on Thursday, consumer staples shares fell by 0.1%.

Top Headline

U.S. initial jobless claims increased by 2,000 to 223,000 during the second week of March, compared to market estimates of 224,000.

Equities Trading UP                       

ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE:PRA) shares shot up 48% to $22.99 after the company announced it will be acquired by The Doctors Company for $25.00 per share in cash.

Shares of Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:WINT)got a boost, surging 71% to $2.8950 after the company entered a ...