"The downtrend in claims, even with this modest uptick this week, is being sustained"
- Eric Green, chief market economist at TD Securities Inc.
The number of Americans claiming for unemployment benefits rose to 362 thousand in the week ended March 3 from the week before, said the Department of Labor on Thursday.
"The downtrend in claims, even with this modest uptick this week, is being sustained," said Eric Green, chief market economist at TD Securities Inc. in New York.
"This is consistent with a much better labor market. The shift higher in job activity looks to be in tact."
"We remain in this lower range as far as the jobless claims are concerned and most analysts are looking forward to at least a moderately encouraging payrolls report today," said Nick Bennenbroek, head of currency strategy at Wells Fargo in New York.
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