US initial jobless claims come in less than forecast at 289,000
US jobless claims decreased by 6,000 to 289,000 in the week ended 13 December, the fewest since early November, the Labor Department said.
Analysts had been expecting 295,000 claims. Jobless claims have been below 300,000 for 13 of the past 14 weeks.
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday said the labour market had improved but it will be "patient" on the timing of the first interest-rate rate increase.