Stocks turn slightly higher early Thursday after weekly jobless claims, final earnings reports, and rising China tensions

U.S. stocks were lower midday Thursday as investors digested a fresh round of corporate results and economic data, including a report that showed another 2.44 million Americans filed for first-time jobless claims on an adjusted basis. 

Market participants were also digesting a fresh spurt of hawkishness from the White House on China.

How are benchmarks faring? 
The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.11% traded about 79 points, 0.3%, lower, near 24,497, while the S&P 500 index SPX, -0.46% was about 18 points, or 0.6%, lower at 2,953. The Nasdaq COMP, -0.47% fell about 67 points or 0.7% to trade near 9,308.

On Wednesday, the Dow rallied 369.04 points, or 1.5%, to finish at 24,575.90. The S&P 500 SPX, -0.46% climbed 48.67 points, or 1.7%, to end at 2,971.61, its highest close since March 6, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The Nasdaq Composite rose 190.67 points, or 2.1%, closing at 9,375.78.