US close: Stocks edge higher as Amazon and Microsoft jump on earnings

US stocks edged higher on Thursday as investors digested a deluge of mixed earnings and disappointing economic data

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 20.42 points to 18,058.69, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gained five and 17 points respectively.

Data released before the opening bell revealed that claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose in the week to 18 April.

The Labor Department reported that US initial jobless claims rose to 295,000 in the week to 18 April from 294,000 the previous week, compared to analysts’ estimates of 287,000.

US new home sales plunged by 11.4% to 481,000 in March after surging 7.8% the previous month to a seven-year high of 543,000.

Meanwhile, Markit's preliminary reading of its US manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 54.2 in April from 55.7 in March. Analysts expected no change.

Further abroad, data also released on Thursday that the HSBC Chinese manufacturing PMI fell to a one-year low in April while the Eurozone composite PMI pulled back from an 11-month high due to weaker growth in France and Germany.

In corporate news, Amazon jumped 7% in after-hour trading afters its quarterly results beat estimates, while Starbucks rose 4.15% after the bell as second quarter earnings jumped 18%.

Google quarterly earnings missed estimates but shares in the tech giant climbed 1.57% in after-hour trading, while Microsoft jumped 2.9% after the closing bell as its third quarter revenue rose 5% to $12.8bn, above expectations of a $12.4bn reading.

Telecoms giant AT&T rose 1.37% after posting slightly better-than-expected earnings report issued on Wednesday.

Online marketplace eBay gained 3.88% after surpassing estimates with a 10% jump in first-quarter earnings per share to 77 cents on revenues that were 4% higher at $4.45bn.

Dunkin’ Brands Group jumped 7.80% after reporting first-quarter earnings above analyst forecasts and boosting its 2015 outlook.

Manufacturing conglomerate 3M dropped 3.04% after lowering its annual profit guidance as a stronger dollar hit sales and profits in its first quarter. Earnings per share for the full year are now forecasts to be $7.80-8.10, below its previous guidance of $8.00-8.30.

General Motors fell 3.34% after posting disappointing earnings, hurt by stronger currency and weaker overseas performance

Industrial equipment maker Caterpillar shed 0.09% despite beating forecasts as strong demand in North America made up for falling sales in China and Latin America. Sales fell 4% to $12.7bn in the first three months of 2015, ahead of the $12.3bn pencilled in by analysts.

The dollar lost 0.95% against the euro, shedding 0.14% and 0.35% against the pound and the yen respectively, while gold futures

Oil prices jumped, with West Texas Intermediate rising 2.38% to $57.53 a barrel, while Brent crude climbed 3.25% to $64.84 a barrel.

S&P 500 - Risers
Cameron International Corp. (CAM) $52.78 +7.67%
Cablevision Systems Corp. (CVC) $19.41 +5.43%
O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) $228.31 +5.37%
United States Steel Corp. (X) $26.96 +4.58%
Equifax Inc. (EFX) $98.38 +4.45%
AT&T Inc. (T) $34.22 +4.14%
Citrix Systems Inc. (CTXS) $67.34 +3.97%
eBay Inc. (EBAY) $58.89 +3.77%
Dover Corp. (DOV) $74.38 +3.46%
Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR) $15.57 +3.46%

S&P 500 - Fallers
PulteGroup Inc. (PHM) $19.98 -7.88%
Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU) $4.53 -6.98%
Texas Instruments Inc (TXN) $54.72 -6.83%
Lennar Corp. Class A (LEN) $46.72 -3.49%
Hershey Foods Corp. (HSY) $94.94 -3.45%
Tesoro Corp. (TSO) $86.50 -3.38%
Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP) $127.21 -3.35%
D. R. Horton Inc. (DHI) $26.14 -3.29%
Avago Technologies Ltd. (AVGO) $124.07 -2.99%
3M Co. (MMM) $159.85 -2.93%

Dow Jones I.A - Risers
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) $170.24 +2.95%
Travelers Company Inc. (TRV) $103.49 +1.44%
Pfizer Inc. (PFE) $35.35 +1.20%
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $109.01 +0.99%
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $50.06 +0.99%
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) $79.19 +0.97%
Nike Inc. (NKE) $101.12 +0.97%
Home Depot Inc. (HD) $114.04 +0.93%
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $43.34 +0.83%
Apple Inc. (AAPL) $129.67 +0.82%

Dow Jones I.A - Fallers
3M Co. (MMM) $159.85 -2.93%
Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) $80.96 -2.56%
Intel Corp. (INTC) $32.35 -1.07%
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (DD) $70.80 -0.90%
Boeing Co. (BA) $149.84 -0.89%
McDonald's Corp. (MCD) $96.98 -0.88%
Coca-Cola Co. (KO) $40.97 -0.82%
Visa Inc. (V) $67.73 -0.41%
American Express Co. (AXP) $78.14 -0.38%
Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) $57.51 -0.31%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers
O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) $228.31 +5.37%
Citrix Systems Inc. (CTXS) $67.34 +3.97%
eBay Inc. (EBAY) $58.89 +3.77%
DIRECTV (DTV) $90.12 +3.30%
Liberty Global plc Series A (LBTYA) $52.38 +3.17%
Vimpelcom Ltd Ads (VIP) $5.90 +2.43%
Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) $49.43 +2.27%
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) $135.82 +2.24%
Mattel Inc. (MAT) $28.92 +1.97%
Mylan Inc. (MYL) $73.69 +1.78%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers
Texas Instruments Inc (TXN) $54.72 -6.83%
Nxp Semiconductors Nv (NXPI) $98.58 -4.00%
Avago Technologies Ltd. (AVGO) $124.07 -2.99%
Facebook Inc. (FB) $82.41 -2.62%
Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN) $184.57 -1.92%
Broadcom Corp. (BRCM) $45.44 -1.60%
Altera Corp. (ALTR) $42.09 -1.60%
Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) $63.59 -1.40%
Xilinx Inc. (XLNX) $43.76 -1.37%
PACCAR Inc. (PCAR) $66.49 -1.36%