U.S. stocks fall amid ECB decision, economic data

U.S. stocks traded lower in the morning session on Thursday, as investors mainly digested weekly jobless claims and a decision from the European Central Bank (ECB).

At midday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 37.91 points, or 0.20 percent, to 18,488.23. The S&P 500 lost 3.43 points, or 0.16 percent, to 2,182.73. The Nasdaq Composite Index decreased 19.14 points, or 0.36 percent, to 5,264.78.

The ECB has kept interest rates unchanged and maintained its quantitative easing program, media reported on Thursday.

On the economic front in the United States, in the week ending Sept. 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 259,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 263,000, the Labor Department announced Thursday.

The 4-week moving average was 261,250, a decrease of 1,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 263,000.

Newly-released data, including nonfarm payrolls report last week, has been in focus recently, with investors pondering over when the U.S. Federal Reserve will decide to raise interest rates.

The Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed's monetary policy arm, is set to meet on Sept. 20-21.

In corporate news, Apple shares was down 2.32 percent around midday Thursday, a day after the company unveiled its iPhone 7 at an event in San Francisco.

U.S. stocks closed mixed Wednesday, with the Nasdaq Composite Index refreshing previous day's closing record, as Wall Street digested the Federal Reserve's Beige Book. Enditem