Investors stepped lightly in New York Thursday, after another weak report from the jobs market added to worries over the bleak outlook for the U.S. economy.

The Labor Department recorded 516,000 new jobless claims last week, up from 484,000 the week before. Even more disconcerting was another increase in the number of continuing claims, which is nearing 4.0 million. Wall Street mostly took the data in stride though, and actually opened higher. But the market was in neutral by midday, as stocks sought direction following troubling forecasts from Intel (nasdaq: INTC - news - people ) and Wal-Mart (nyse: WMT - news - people ). (See "Wal-Mart Gears Up For Weak Sales.")

Wal-Mart narrowed its fourth-quarter profit forecast, but expressed optimism for the holiday season, while Intel cut its revenue and gross margin projections due to a weaker business outlook. Still, the major average were searching for direction at midday, as the Dow was off 24 points, or 0.3%, to 8,258; the S&P 500 slipped 1 point, or 0.1%, to 852; and the Nasdaq dropped 18 points, or 1.2%, to 1,481. Wal-Mart shares were down 52 cents, or 1.0%, to $52.10, and Intel fell 18 cents, or 1.3%, to $13.34.

Las Vegas Sands (nyse: LVS - news - people ) said it will lay off 11,000 construction workers at properties in Macau. The casino operator is suspending construction in the area as it copes with limited financing options and is in talks to raise $1.5 billion to $2.0 billion to finance Macau projects. Shares of Las Vegas Sands managed to gain 28 cents, or 5.5%, to $5.38, on optimism that it will be able to get its finances back in order.

Despite the economic concerns and worry over the pullback in consumer spending, buying demand for Treasury Securities eased Thursday, and yields crept higher. The benchmark 10-year note was returning 3.74%, up from 3.67% Wednesday. The three-year note, which drew robust demand in an auction that reintroduced it Monday, was yielding 1.55%, down from 1.60% Wednesday as traders clamored for it.

Investors stepped lightly in New York Thursday, after another weak report from the jobs market added to worries over the bleak outlook for the U.S. economy.

The Labor Department recorded 516,000 new jobless claims last week, up from 484,000 the week before. Even more disconcerting was another increase in the number of continuing claims, which is nearing 4.0 million. Wall Street mostly took the data in stride though, and actually opened higher. But the market was in neutral by midday, as stocks sought direction following troubling forecasts from Intel (nasdaq: INTC - news - people ) and Wal-Mart (nyse: WMT - news - people ). (See "Wal-Mart Gears Up For Weak Sales.")

Wal-Mart narrowed its fourth-quarter profit forecast, but expressed optimism for the holiday season, while Intel cut its revenue and gross margin projections due to a weaker business outlook. Still, the major average were searching for direction at midday, as the Dow was off 24 points, or 0.3%, to 8,258; the S&P 500 slipped 1 point, or 0.1%, to 852; and the Nasdaq dropped 18 points, or 1.2%, to 1,481. Wal-Mart shares were down 52 cents, or 1.0%, to $52.10, and Intel fell 18 cents, or 1.3%, to $13.34.

Las Vegas Sands (nyse: LVS - news - people ) said it will lay off 11,000 construction workers at properties in Macau. The casino operator is suspending construction in the area as it copes with limited financing options and is in talks to raise $1.5 billion to $2.0 billion to finance Macau projects. Shares of Las Vegas Sands managed to gain 28 cents, or 5.5%, to $5.38, on optimism that it will be able to get its finances back in order.

Despite the economic concerns and worry over the pullback in consumer spending, buying demand for Treasury Securities eased Thursday, and yields crept higher. The benchmark 10-year note was returning 3.74%, up from 3.67% Wednesday. The three-year note, which drew robust demand in an auction that reintroduced it Monday, was yielding 1.55%, down from 1.60% Wednesday as traders clamored for it.