Surprise jobless data sends Dow higher

Less than an hour after opening, the index was up more than 17 points, or 0.2%, to 8,514.57. Figures issued by the Labor Department showed continuing jobless claims fell 148,000 to below 6.7 million for the week ending 6 June. Following on from President Obama's fresh rules for the banking sector, Bank of America Corporation was one of the biggest early winners, rising 1.87% to $12.53, while J.P. Morgan Chase was also on the rise, gaining 1.56% to $33.24. Meanwhile, the General Electric Company was the biggest loser, dropping 3.7% to $11.70, while Caterpillar was also down, falling 2.08%...