NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. stocks are edging higher in early trading Thursday following a three-day losing streak. Energy companies were among the early winners after being beaten down over the past several days. Oil prices fell.
KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 34 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,526 as of 10:17 a.m. Eastern time. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose three points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,050. The Nasdaq composite increased seven points, or 0.1 percent, to 5,030.
RUMPLED: Men’s Warehouse plunged $4.62, or 25 percent, to $13.77 after reporting earnings per share that was half what financial analysts expected, according to Factset. The struggling clothes chain is down 68 percent since the start of 2015.
SUNBURN: First Solar dropped $4.05, or 7 percent, to $54.80 after the solar energy company released earnings and a forecast that disappointed investors.
DATA WATCH: Applications for unemployment benefits in the U.S. rose last week, but the number of Americans seeking aid remains close to historic lows. The report comes a week before a Federal Reserve meeting that is expected to raise interest rates from a record low.
