US market updates: Low retail sales, low jobless claims

U.S. Jobless Claims Fall; Benefit Rolls at Record

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a.n4JmDoIjlk&refer=home

Still, there are some signs the economic downturn may be easing. The U.S. contraction slowed across several of the economy’s biggest regions last month, with some industries “stabilizing at a low level,” the Federal Reserve said yesterday in its Beige Book survey


U.S. Stocks Fluctuate; Real-Estate Bankruptcy Offsets JPMorgan

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=arqoFgY1.iYQ

NYSE Euronext Chief Executive Officer Duncan Niederauer said last month’s rally in equities was propelled by traders taking advantage of price fluctuations rather than “real money” investors, who are waiting to see whether the gains will hold, the Financial Times reported.

“We’re waiting for another rally, in my opinion, in around June and July,” when institutional and other long-term investors start putting more money into equities, the newspaper quoted him as saying in an interview.