US close: Markets higher amid solid employment data

Wall Street finished in the green on Thursday, as investors thumbed through weaker-than-expected inflation data and jobless claims figures that continued to indicate the US labour market was in good health.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.8% at 24,739.53, while the S&P 500 added 0.94% to 2,723.07 and the Nasdaq 100 was 1.02% higher at 6,963.55.

Earlier in the session and back across the pond, the Bank of England voted 7-2 to keep interest rates unchanged at 0.5% as expected, and downgraded its outlook for GDP growth and inflation.

On the data front in the US, the number of people applying for unemployment benefits throughout early May was flat at 211,000 for the second straight week, keeping initial jobless claims near a 49-year low according to the Labor Department.

Elsewhere, the core consumer price index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, printed at up by 2.1% for April compared to the same period a year ago, the fastest clip since last February but behind the 2.2% forecast by economists.

Meanwhile, the consumer price index rose 0.2% in April, also a touch below forecasts.

In US corporate news, streaming hardware maker Roku reversed earlier gains to finish down 1.72%, even after it posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings late on Wednesday.

Cinema chain AMC Entertainment Holdings picked up 2.49% after it posted higher first-quarter earnings and revenues on the strength of films like Black Panther and Jumanji, while Tribune Media also gave up earlier gains to fall 0.48% after blowing past first-quarter estimates.

Dow Jones - Risers

Dowdupont Inc. (DWDP) $66.95 4.23%
General Electric Co. (GE) $14.69 2.94%
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $153.94 2.69%
Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) $81.75 2.24%
Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) $233.71 1.96%
Chevron Corp. (CVX) $128.80 1.78%
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $47.20 1.77%
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $125.32 1.49%
Apple Inc. (AAPL) $190.04 1.43%
Intel Corp. (INTC) $54.98 1.18%

Dow Jones - Fallers

Walmart Inc. (WMT) $82.67 -0.45%
Pfizer Inc. (PFE) $35.04 -0.37%
Boeing Co. (BA) $344.07 -0.12%
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $101.68 -0.11%
Nike Inc. (NKE) $67.92 -0.04%
Visa Inc. (V) $130.97 0.12%
Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) $58.06 0.19%
Home Depot Inc. (HD) $187.16 0.44%
McDonald's Corp. (MCD) $165.06 0.51%
Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $46.30 0.56%

S&P 500 - Risers

Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) $3.34 7.03%
CenturyLink Inc. (CTL) $19.40 7.00%
Discovery Inc. Class C (DISCK) $22.57 6.92%
Discovery Inc. Class A (DISCA) $23.82 6.91%
Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO) $20.08 6.41%
Freeport-McMoRan Inc (FCX) $16.22 6.01%
Spectra Energy Corp. (SE) $10.98 6.00%
Mallinckrodt Plc Ordinary Shares (MNK) $14.50 5.69%
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) $73.01 5.16%
Devon Energy Corp. (DVN) $40.89 4.79%

S&P 500 - Fallers

Dover Corp. (DOV) $76.67 -18.20%
L Brands Inc (LB) $31.68 -7.15%
Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) $2,080.02 -4.74%
FMC Technologies Inc. (FTI) $31.65 -3.21%
Macy's Inc. (M) $29.42 -2.39%
D. R. Horton Inc. (DHI) $43.86 -2.34%
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) $127.40 -2.26%
Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) $39.08 -1.78%
Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (COG) $22.95 -1.67%
AutoNation Inc. (AN) $45.94 -1.42%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

DENTSPLY Sirona Inc. (XRAY) $46.54 4.40%
Align Technology Inc. (ALGN) $277.73 3.63%
Hologic Inc. (HOLX) $38.19 3.47%
Express Scripts Holding Co (ESRX) $70.96 3.40%
QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM) $54.97 3.39%
Micron Technology Inc. (MU) $52.66 3.23%
Mylan Inc. (MYL) $37.90 3.21%
Paypal Holdings Inc (PYPL) $79.19 2.83%
Baidu Inc. (BIDU) $268.68 2.83%
Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) $31.56 2.70%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

Qurate Retail Group Inc QVC Group (QRTEA) $21.89 -10.84%
Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) $2,080.02 -4.74%
Mercadolibre Inc. (MELI) $316.63 -2.67%
Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) $92.62 -0.99%
JD.com, Inc. (JD) $36.85 -0.78%
Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) $81.31 -0.66%
Tesla Inc (TSLA) $305.02 -0.60%
Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. (ULTA) $247.50 -0.56%
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN) $116.13 -0.55%
Celgene Corp. (CELG) $82.38 -0.51%