Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed in the first trading session since the Christmas holiday, with the S&P 500 finishing only modestly lower on the day.
Data from the Labor Department showed that initial jobless claims for the week ended Dec. 21 ticked lower from the previous week, a sign of resilience in the labor market that could influence the Federal Reserve as policymakers weigh interest-rate cuts in 2025.
The S&P 500 fluctuated around the flatline for much of the day before closing with a loss of less than 0.1%. The Dow also ended the session minimally lower, while the Nasdaq eked out a small gain.
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) stock rose 5.3% to secure the S&P 500’s top daily performance. Shares of the pharmacy operator surged higher earlier in December following reports of buyout discussions with a private equity firm, but the stock has been volatile since.
Shares of discount retailer Dollar Tree (DLTR) pushed 3.8% higher. …