Stocks hit record highs after good news on economy

NEW YORK (AP) -- The U.S. stock market closed at record highs Thursday following another piece of good news on the economy.<br /> <br /> The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose nine points, or 0.5 percent, to close at a record 2,011. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 109 points, or 0.6 percent, to 17,265 also a record. The Nasdaq composite jumped 31 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4,593.<br /> <br /> Fewer Americans filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits last week, according to the Labor Department. Weekly applications fell 36,000 to 280,000, well below economists' forecasts.<br /> <br /> Also, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday made clear it would keep interest rates at record lows for a while. Low rates have boosted the market by helping revive the economy and making stocks more attractive compared with bonds.

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