Jobless claims edge up
The U.S. industrial sector lost momentum in July, rising just 0.2%, while new claims for jobless benefits edged up last week. The reports are being seen as fresh evidence of the sluggish economic recovery south of the border.

The Federal Reserve reported Thursday that output at U.S. factories, mines and utilities nudged up 0.2%, a slowdown from the brisk 0.7% increase posted in June.

Meanwhile, the Labor Department reported that new claims for jobless benefits edged up in the last week. New applications for unemployment insurance rose by a seasonally adjusted 6,000 to 388,000 for the work week ending August 10.