US jobless claims fall sharply in latest week
One of the most widely-followed gauges for the US jobs market revealed it continued to be in robust health.
Initial jobless claims plummeted by 12,000 over the week ending 12 August to reach 232,000, according to the Department of Labor.
Economists had forecast a reading of 240,000.
Meanwhile, the four-week moving average, which aims to smoothe out the volatility in the figures from one week to the next, dipped by 500 to 240,500.
Secondary unemployment claims, those which are not filed for the first time and referencing the week ended on 5 August fell by 3,000 to 1.953m.