WALL STREET Relatively low jobless figures help lift stocks, boost indexes

NEW YORK (AP) -- A steady unemployment picture boosted Wall Street's confidence in the economy Thursday, lifting stocks moderately higher and giving the major indexes a gain for the shortened trading week.
Even though the Labor Department reported a slight rise in first-time jobless claims, the market wasn't alarmed, given that claims are still far lower than a year ago, and the number of people currently receiving unemployment insurance is at a three-year low.
The news was enough for buying to resume after Wednesday's sell-off that was prompted by concerns over the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy.
The markets were closed today in observance of the national day of mourning for former President Reagan.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 41.66, or 0.4 percent, to 10,410.10.
Broader stock indicators also closed higher. The Standard & amp; Poor's 500 index was up 5.14, or 0.4 percent, at 1,136.47, and the Nasdaq composite index gained 9.26, or 0.5 percent, to 1,999.87.
All three indexes ended the week higher. The Dow was up 1.6 percent for the week, while the S & amp;P 500 gained 1.2 percent -- the third straight week of gains for both. The Nasdaq reversed last week's slide, closing the week up 1.1 percent.