Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesLast week, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell less than anticipated.This move is a reversal of some ground that was lost Wednesday when ADP data showed a slowdown in private hiring.While oil prices rose, gold prices fell.Check out more stories from Insider's business page.The US stock market traded higher on Thursday due to a decrease in weekly jobless claims, which eased concerns about the labor market.According to the Labor Department, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell less than expected last week. This caps off a volatile month which signaled a slowing in the recovery of the labor market.Unadjusted 385,000 jobless claims were reported, compared with a median estimate from Bloomberg economists of 383,000 claims. This reading is also well above the July pandemic-era low.Although jobless claims have been volatile over the past few months, the decline in data indicates that more people are applying for jobs, according Mike Loewengart (maaging director of investment strategy at E-Trade Financial). A testament to consumer demand is the historic trade deficit, which reached a record high in June.He wrote in a note that "it's encouraging to observe robust demand in spite of delta fears weighing upon investors."Here are the US indexes at 9:30 AM. ET opens on ThursdayUS stocks closed mixed on Wednesday following statements by Richard Clarida, Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve, that conditions could be met for the central bank raising interest rates by 2022.Clarida's statement was more hawkish that the central bank's "dot chart" forecast. This forecast shows that most policymakers expect two rate increases by 2023.The benchmark 10-year bond yield rose to 1.19% from 1.84% at its closing.Robinhood shares plunged 15% following major shareholders filing to sell 98million shares. This took the wind out a huge two-day rally that began less than a week after the popular trading app's Nasdaq debut.A hotly anticipated upgrade to the Ethereum network, known as Ethereum Improvement Protocol 1559 or EIP-1559, is being announced in cryptocurrencies. Some investors are excited about the change, which will destroy or "burn” ether coins.Oil prices recovered from the day's losses. West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.2% to $68.30 a barrel. Brent crude oil, the international benchmark for oil, rose 0.23% to $70.54 per barrel.The gold price fell by 0.1% to 1,809.78 an ounce.
