• US stocks traded mixed on Thursday after weekly unemployment claims dipped below 1 million for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic drove historic job loss.
  • Claims for jobless benefits dropped to 963,000 for the week ended Saturday, according to the Labor Department. The reading handily beat economists’ 1.1 million estimate.
  • Investors continued to wait for progress in stimulus bill negotiations. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rebuffed White House criticism of Democrats and said the party would talks when the administration starts “to take this process seriously.”
  • Oil declined slightly after the International Energy Agency cut demand forecasts for 2020 and 2021. West Texas Intermediate crude sank as much as 0.6%, to $42.40.
  • Watch major indexes update live here.

US equities traded mixed on Thursday after weekly jobless claims declined below 1 million for the first time since mid-March.

Claims for unemployment insurance fell to 963,000 for the week ended Saturday, the Labor Department revealed Thursday. The reading landed well below the 1.1 million estimate from economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

The sum is also the lowest number of weekly claims since the coronavirus pandemic slammed the US economy. Claims had landed above 1 million every week since March 21.

Continuing claims, which measure the aggregate total of people receiving unemployment benefits, landed at 15.5 million for the week ended August 1. The reading marks a decline from the prior period’s revised number.

Here's where US indexes stood shortly after the 9:30 a.m. ET market open on Thursday:

Read more: Fred Liu's Hayden Capital has returned more than 100% in 2020. He breaks down the simple strategy he used to pinpoint 2 stocks that grew 10-times within just a few years.

The better-than-expected jobs data lifted stocks from a modest decline in early trading. Indexes' steady rally has recently slowed as investors' patience for a stimulus bill wanes.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi knocked the White House on Wednesday, saying that Democrats are "willing to resume negotiations" when the Trump administration starts "to take this process seriously." Democrats and Republicans remain worlds apart in plans for economic stimulus and talks remain deadlocked.

The S&P 500 remains les than 1% from a record high. The index closed just below its past peaks in the last two trading sessions as investors fluctuate between tech mega-caps and neglected cyclical stocks.

Read more: Goldman Sachs explains the biggest factors that will drive returns in all 11 stock-market sectors amid virus uncertainty - and lays out how you should position your portfolio in each one

Apple drove indexes higher, gaining after Bloomberg reported the company plans to sell a bundle of its digital services at a discounted price. Other tech giants posted mild gains.

Gold continued its climb back to $2,000 after notching its biggest loss in seven years on Tuesday.

Treasury yields gained as investors braced for an auction of 30-year bonds.

Oil prices dipped slightly after the International Energy Agency slashed its forecast for demand in 2020 and 2021. West Texas Intermediate crude sank as much as 0.6%, to $42.40. Brent crude, the international benchmark, declined 0.6%, to $45.14, at intraday lows.

Now read more markets coverage from Markets Insider and Business Insider:

The CEO of an $815 million ETF provider explains how to build the perfect portfolio for today's market using just 3 low-cost funds

Crowdfunding platform YieldStreet reportedly under SEC and FBI examination over investments

Stocks will soar 14% by the end of next year on unyielding optimism, long-standing bull Ed Yardeni says