(Reuters) – Stocks opened flat on Thursday as data showed an unexpected drop in weekly jobless claims, though weakness in retail sales data weighed on indexes.
Major retailer stocks, including Gap Inc (GPS.N), fell in early trading. Gap lost 2 percent to $28.54 while Target Corp (TGT.N) was off 2 percent at $56.78.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was down 2.57 points, or 0.02 percent, at 13,266.00. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index .SPX dipped 0.09 points, or 0.01 percent, at 1,402.22. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was off 0.37 points, or 0.01 percent, at 3,059.48.
(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)