US DATA: Initial jobless claims -34k to 388k SA Dec 25 wk (lowest
since July 12, 2008 with 415k expected) with prv wk revised up 2k to
422k. NSA claims +24,879 to 521,834. Labor analyst said despite the
surge of construction/mfg and other sector layoffs this time of year,
the adjusted “general downward trend” is still clearly visible through
the weekly ups and downs and the NSA surge since September. Seasonals
expected 14.1%/70k increase, got a 5%/25k increase instead, which was
turned into the adjusted 34k decline. Alaska,Okla estimated but no
unusual factors, a “clean week,” he says. 4-wk initial claims SA -12.5k
to 414k. Continuing claims SA +57k to 4.128 mln. In a survey wk
comparison, cont claims were 4.128 mln this wk (+57k) vs 4.217 mln, down
89k from a month earlier. Insured unemp rate 3.3%.