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U.S. stocks open slightly higher amid mixed data

Xinhua, September 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Thursday as investors were digesting mixed economic reports ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting next week.

In the week ending Sept. 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 275,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level, the Labor Department said Thursday.

In a separate report, the department said that U.S. import prices declined 1.8 percent in August due to falling oil prices and a rising dollar, logging their biggest drop in seven months.

Prices for U.S. exports also fell 1.4 percent in August, exceeding market consensus of a 0.4-percent decline.

The strengthening U.S. labor market and falling import prices triggered market debate over whether the Fed should raise interest rates next week.

Uncertainty about the Fed's decision over whether or not to hike rates at its two-day policy meeting next week has been contributing to the recent volatility in the market.

Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 2.14 points, or 0.01 percent, to 16,255.71. The S&P 500 rose 0.53 point, or 0.03 percent, to 1,942.57. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 1.32 points, or 0.03 percent, to 4,757.85.

On Wednesday, U.S. stocks reversed early gains to end sharply lower as investors remained cautious ahead of the Fed's policy meeting. Endi