Stocks Nudge Higher on ECB's Unprecedented Rate Cut

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- U.S. stocks were nudging higher Thursday as the markets cheered the European Central Bank's unprecedented moves to help stimulate the eurozone economy. The ECB on Thursday cut the refi rate to 0.15% and the marginal lending rate to 0.4% and decided in favor of slashing the deposit rate to negative territory for the first time at -0.1%. The decision demonstrated the ECB's commitment to fighting a prolonged period of low inflation that has been adding to worries over a faltering economic recovery. The S&P 500 was up 0.15% to 1,930.73. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.11% to 16,755.51. The Nasdaq was increasing 0.31% to 4,264.76. European markets turned higher, with the DAX up 0.62% and the FTSE up 0.16%. Stock markets in Asia finished mixed on Thursday. A generally positive weekly U.S. initial jobless claims report added to the positive sentiment Thursday. Weekly claims levels, though rising by 8,000 to 312,000 in the week ended May 31, remained near a cycle low, according to RBC economists. Meanwhile, the four-week moving average dipped to 310,250, the lowest for this average in seven years. A handful of individual stocks were spiking. Twitter was advancing 2.37% as The Financial Times reported that Twitter has considered buying online music services including Soundcloud and Spotify in recent months. Medtronic was down 1.58% as Bloomberg said it's evaluating a takeover of London-based Smith & Nephew that could see the U.S. company move its tax domicile overseas. Amazon.com was up 0.58% as it asks customers to request an invitation to a launch event for an unspecified device on June 18 in Seattle. According to The Verge and other publications, the event is likely for the launch of a 3D smartphone that has been rumored for months. J.M. Smucker , the maker of jellies and jams, said Thursday that earnings in its fiscal fourth quarter fell 9% but adjusted profit of $1.21 a share beat Wall Street expectations. Shares were gaining 0.84%. The S&P 500 hit a record intraday high Wednesday, despite spending much of the morning in the red amid renewed confidence in homegrown growth ahead of the ECB meeting. -- By Andrea Tse in New York>> Read More: June 5 Premarket Briefing: 10 Things You Should Know Markets Snap Back on Renewed Confidence in Homegrown Growth

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