Morning Market Report 4/30/2015

The KUIK Morning Market Report for Thursday, April 30:
Markets are down.
Index Direction Change Units Time Change
Dow Down                      (75) points           17,960 6:55 AM
S&P500 Down -0.5% percent            2,096           (10.42)
Nasdaq Composite Down -0.6% percent            4,994           (29.24)
30 Year Treasury Up                         5 Basis Points              2.79 Annual Yield
The Labor Department reports that initial claims for unemployment benefits fell to a seasonally adjusted 262,000 in the week ended April 25th, that’s a 15 year low and down from a revised 296,000 last week.  Continuing claims fell by 74,000 to 2.25 million in the week ended April 18. That’s also a 15-year low.
The Labor Department also reports the cost of employing the average U.S. worker climbed 0.7% in the first quarter, according to the employment cost index . Economists expected a 0.6% gain. Wages, which are 70% of employment costs, rose 0.7% in the quarter, while benefits rose 0.6%. Over the past 12 months, employment costs have climbed 2.6%, the fastest rise since the fourth quarter of 2008.
 The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index jumped in April to a reading of 52.3 up from 46.3 in March, going back above the 50-mark signaling expansion. A double-digit gain in the new orders component led to the advance.
Serving the West Side first, I am Bill Roller of BR Capital for 1360 KUIK.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-jobless-claims-sink-to-15-year-low-2015-04-30
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wages-pick-up-in-the-first-quarter-2015-04-30
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chicago-pmi-back-in-positive-territory-for-april-2015-04-30
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