Stocks Rallying On Jobs Numbers; Drop In Crude (USO)

U.S. equity markets are getting a major boost on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 158 points to 12,225. The S&P has added 17 points and is trading at 1,325. This move in stocks is being attributed to encouraging initial and continuing unemployment claims data and expectations of a good non-farm payrolls number tomorrow. In addition, the price of crude oil has pulled back slightly, which is lifting equity markets. Currently, NYMEX crude is down around 1% at $101.28. The United States Oil Fund ETF

is down 0.70% to $41.10.