According to the latest Labor Department data, weekly jobless claims fell to 219,000 compared with expectations of 223,000.

Stocks were slightly higher in afternoon trading Thursday as the market looks to add to its gains from earlier in the week.

The stock erased early mild losses after the Christmas midweek holiday. Boeing shares have made five-month highs.

U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began ...