Wall Street stock futures eased Thursday following a jump in U.S. jobless claims and weaker-than-expected housing data.

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for state unemployment benefits soared last week, rising 62,000 to 589,000, the U.S. Labour Department said.

Meanwhile, housing starts in the United States decreased 15.5% to a seasonally adjusted 550,000 annual rate, after dropping 15.1% in November to 651,000, the U.S. Commerce Department said. It was the lowest pace recorded since 1959.

Here at home, retail sales were down 2.4% in November compared with a month earlier, largely reflecting the sizeable drop in gasoline prices and lower sales at new car dealers, Statistics Canada said.

Excluding the automotive sector, retail sales were flat. In volume terms, retail sales fell 0.6%.

Separately, StatsCan said the composite index fell by 0.6% in December, matching the drop in November after three months of accelerating declines.

Consumer spending remained resilient, with increases for both furniture and appliances and other durable goods, StatsCan said.

The Canadian dollar opened at US79.30¢, down 0.33 of a cent.

In this morning’s banking news, Toronto-Dominion Bank announced a $200 million issue of preferred stock, and National Bank of Canada unveiled a $100 million issue.

In today’s earnings news, UnitedHealth said its fourth-quarter net income slid 40% amid litigation charges, higher claims costs and falling membership.

Late Wednesday, tech bellwether Apple posted strong sales and profit for the holiday quarter.

The results put extra attention on Google and Microsoft, which are due to report their own quarterly earnings after the close of trading Thursday.

Ecommerce giant EBay reported a 31% slump in fourth-quarter profit after Wednesday’s close.

In commodities news, oil futures rose 91¢ to US$44.46 a barrel ahead of weekly energy inventories figures.

Oveseas, financials helped lift markets, with the Nikkei 225 up 1.9% in Tokyo and the UK FTSE 100 rising 1.7% in London.

On Wednesday, the Toronto Stock Exchange climbed higher, fueled by strength in financial stocks and a rally for energy companies as oil futures advanced.

The S&P/TSX composite index gained 252.96 points, or 3%, to close at 8,757.89.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index dipped slightly lower on Wednesday, shedding 5.13 points, or 0.6%, to close at 851.55.

In New York, U.S. stock markets also bounced back on Wednesday, carried by strength in financial companies and energy stocks.

The Dow Jones industrial average rallied 279.01 points, or 3.5%, to finish at 8,228.1.

The S&P 500 gained 35.02 points, or 4.4%, to close at 840.24.

The Nasdaq composite rose 66.21 points, or 4.6%, to 1,507.06.

IE