The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Business

April 19, 2012

Stocks are flat at opening of trading

NEW YORK — Stocks are opening flat as investors weigh stronger corporate earnings against a disappointing jobs report.

The Dow Jones industrial average is up 15 points to 13,049 in the opening minutes of trading Thursday. The S&P 500 is up two at 1,388.

Morgan Stanley rose nearly 6 percent after the bank trounced Wall Street expectations for the first quarter.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. rose 2.7 percent after reporting profits higher than expected profits. Southwest Airlines and Bank of America also beat expectations.

The Labor Department said applications for unemployment benefits dipped 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 386,000. When they fall below 375,000, it generally suggests hiring strong enough to lower the unemployment rate.

 

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