Mubasher: US jobless claims fell 8,000 week-on-week to 207,000 claims in the week ended 14 July, signalling better labour market conditions, according to data released on Thursday.

This marks the lowest level for initial claims since 6 December 1969, the US Labor Department stated.

This came below a forecast of 224,000, according to analysts polled by MarketWatch.

The more stable monthly average of claims saw a decrease of 2,750 claims to 220,500 for the week ended 14 July, from the previous week's average which was revised up to 223,250 from 223,000.

The initial seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate for the week ended 7 July stabilised at 1.2%, from the previous week’s unrevised rate, according to the US Labor Department's data.

As for the insured jobless individuals in the US, the initial seasonally adjusted figure rose 8,000 to 1.75 million during the week ended 7 July, compared to the prior week’s figure, which was revised up by 4,000 to 1.73 million.

The four-month moving average also added 6,250 to 1.73 million from last week’s revised 1.72 million, the data found.

The provisional unadjusted figure of actual initial claims filed under state programmes totalled 231,347 in the week ended 14 July, falling by 33,522 claims or 12.7% from the claims filed in the preceding week, while there total of initial claims reached 257,763 in the same week last year.

By 12:45 pm GMT, the US dollar index climbed 0.54% to 95.6000.