US markets rise on labor news

U.S. markets rose early Thursday, pushed by a Labor Department report that said first-time unemployment claims dropped in the week. The number of initial benefit claims filed fell by 10,000 to 332,000, the lowest it has been since January 2008. The Dow Jones industrial average, on a nine-day winning streak, the longest it has seen in 16 years, added 63.56 points, or 0.44 percent, to 14,518.84. The Standard and Poor's 500 index added 6.58 points, or 0.42 percent, to 1,561.10. The Nasdaq composite gained 12.44 points, or 0.38 percent, to 3,257.55. The 10-year U.S. treasury bonds fell 10/32 to yield 2.057 percent. Against the dollar, the euro fell to $1.2949 from Wednesday's $1.2961. Against the yen, the dollar was higher at 96.36 yen from 96.11 yen. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 141.53 points, 1.16 percent, to 12,381.19.