The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 85.68 points, or 0.26 percent, to 32,726.82. The S&P 500 decreased 3.23 points, or 0.08 percent, to 4,151.94. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 52.42 points, or 0.41 percent, to 12,720.58.
Seven of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in green, with consumer discretionary and technology up 0.54 percent and 0.42 percent, respectively, outpacing the rest. Energy shed 3.59 percent, the worst-performing group.
The U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday that the nation's initial jobless claims, a rough way to measure layoffs, increased by 6,000 to 260,000 in the week ending July 30. The reading was near the highest level since November and signaled a softening in the U.S. labor market as the economy slows.
The more closely-watched July jobs report is slated for release on Friday. Economists polled by Dow Jones estimate that the U.S. economy added 258,000 jobs in July, down from 372,000 in prior month.
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