US shares showed further growth in a shortened pre-holiday trading session today, with brokers citing encouraging job market data for the improved mood, according to dpa. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.51 per cent higher at 10,520.10 points, for an aggregate gain of some 2 per cent over the course of a week. The S&P 500 index improved 0.53 per cent Thursday to 1,126.48 points, while the technology list NASDAQ"s Composite Index gained 0.71 per cent to close at 2,285.69 points. The week"s gains come amid data showing a drop in unemployment benefit applications, which fell during the week by 28,000 to 452,000. Labour market experts had expected the applications to be higher at 470,000. Among Thursday"s gains, Apple stood out, rising 3.43 per cent to 209.04 dollars to lead the NASDAQ 100 index. Health-sector shares were mixed in the wake of the US Senate approving the Obama Administration"s health care reform bill. Pharmaceuticals company Merck & Co. lost 0.70 per cent to 36.99 dollars, but other drug companies - Pfizer, Amgen and Bristol-Myers Squibb - showed slight gains. Rising oil prices meanwhile boosted petroleum shares. Chevron gained 0.51 per cent to 77.43 dollars, while Exxon rose 0.59 per cent to 68.66 dollars. Thursday"s trading came before Wall Street closed down for the three-day Christmas holiday weekend.
