U.S. stocks close higher amid jobs data

U.S. stocks closed higher on Thursday as investors digested the latest jobs data.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up by 28.01 points, or 0.10 percent, to 27,677.79. The S&P 500 rose by 4.67 points, or 0.15 percent, to 3,117.43. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up by 4.03 points, or 0.05 percent, to 8,570.70.

More than half of the 30 Dow components traded in green territory, with Nike and Apple increasing 2.21 percent and 1.47 percent, respectively, the top two gainers.

Eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors traded on an upbeat note, with the materials sector adding 0.66 percent, the top gainer.

The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, according to data released by the U.S. Labor Department on Thursday.

In the week ending November 30, the initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 10,000 to 203,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis, said the department.

The four-week moving average was 217,750, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 219,750, said the department

Private payrolls, however, increased by only 67,000 in November, according to ADP and Moody's Analytics on Wednesday.

"The job market is losing its shine. Manufacturers, commodity producers, and retailers are shedding jobs," said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics.

He added that if job growth slows any further, unemployment will increase.

U.S.-listed Chinese companies traded higher

U.S.-listed Chinese companies traded mostly higher on Thursday with all of the top 10 stocks by weight in the S&P U.S. Listed China 50 index ending the day on an upbeat note.

Shares of Alibaba and JD.com added 3.23 percent and 3.11 percent, respectively, the top two gainers in the top 10 stocks of the index.

As of Wednesday, the S&P U.S. Listed China 50 index stood at 3,004.04, marking a 1.41-percent decrease for the month-to-date returns and a 31.11-percent gain for the year-to-date returns.

(With input from Xinhua)