US jobless claims rise to 225,000, markets react mixed

Initial unemployment claims in the United States climbed to 225,000 for the week, surpassing the 213,000 estimate and marking the highest level since early February. Continuing claims edged down to 1.777 million, slightly below the 1.780 million forecast, while the four‑week moving average of initial claims rose to 214,750.

The labour‑market data coincided with a mixed reaction on Wall Street. The Nasdaq slipped 358 points in pre‑market trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 506 points, and the S&P 500 fell 19.43 points. Treasury yields eased, with the two‑year rate at 4.039% and the ten‑year at 4.455%. Oil prices fell 3.8%, trading around $92.41 a barrel, as investors weighed the impact of the claims report and broader geopolitical developments on market sentiment.