The Labor Department reported that <strong>initial jobless claims </strong>remained low for another week as the labor market appears to be stabilizing, with both hiring and firings at low levels. The period included Martin Luther King Jr. Day and was marked by severe winter storms across many parts of the country. First time claims in regular state programs recorded 209,000 for the week ending January 24th, after the prior week’s report of 210,000. The four-week moving average rose to 206,250 from 204,000 the prior week. Continuing claims, a proxy for people who are already receiving benefits and still cannot find a job, fell 38,000 to 1,827,000 for the week ending January 17th. The insured unemployment rate, the number of people currently receiving unemployment insurance as a percentage of the labor force, remained at 1.2%.

Index changes can move markets. In All Things Technical, Stephens analyst Melissa Roberts helps companies understand the opportunities, risks, and trading impact around index additions, deletions, and migrations, and why preparation matters.

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