12:24 PM EST, 12/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark stock indexes were edging higher around midday Thursday as traders parsed jobless claims data following the Christmas holiday break.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1% to 43,353.8, the S&P 500 added 0.1% to 6,045.4 and the Nasdaq was 0.1% higher at 20,049.25.

The biggest decliners were consumer discretionary and communication services, while the industrial, technology and health care sectors led the gainers intraday.

In economic news, US initial jobless claims fell to 219,000 in the week ended Dec. 21 from a 220,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 223,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

In company news, Apple ( AAPL ) shares touched a record intraday high of $260.09 early Thursday after Wedbush said in a note to clients that artificial intelligence strategy is expected to spur a "golden era of growth" in 2025 for the tech giant. Apple ( AAPL ) shares were up 0.3% around midday.

Meta Platforms ( META ) has reportedly agreed to pay $1 million and reform its advertising system in Israel to resolve a class action suit alleging that Meta's tools enabled employers to discriminate against job seekers on grounds of age and gender, local media outlet Globes reported Thursday. Meta did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment. The company's shares fell 0.8% intraday.

Toyota Motor ( TM ) shares jumped 8.8% in recent Thursday trading after Nikkei reported Wednesday that the Japanese automaker is looking at a 20% return on equity target for fiscal 2025, doubling market forecasts of 11%.

The US 10-year Treasury yield rose 2 basis points to 4.61%. The two-year rate was up 2.3 basis points to 4.35%.

The US Dollar Index was down 0.1% to 108.1.

West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.2% to $69.96 per barrel.

Gold climbed 0.5% to $2,648.80 an ounce. Silver was little changed at $30.29 per ounce.