US UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS GO UP TO 770,000 AS LAYOFFS REMAIN HIGH

Highlights

• According to the report released by the Labor Department on Thursday, the jobless claims went up to 770,000 from 725,000 the week before

• The average of four weeks claims plunged to 746,000, which is the lowest since late November

• The Labor Department report states currently 4.1 million people are collecting traditional state unemployment benefits, down by 18,000 compared to the week....