US equity indexes closed higher Wednesday in a shortened session before the Christmas holiday after better-than-expected jobless claims data.
* Weekly US jobless claims last week fell to 214,000 from 224,000 in the previous week and below analysts' expectations for no change, according to a Bloomberg survey.
* Mortgage applications dropped 5% in the week ended Dec. 19, following a 3.8% decrease the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
* February West Texas Intermediate crude oil eased $0.01 to $58.37 per barrel, while February Brent crude, the global benchmark, dropped $0.09 to $62.29.
* Nike (NKE) shares rose 4.7%, the biggest gain on the S&P 500, after a disclosure that Apple (AAPL) Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook bought $3 million of the shoemaker's stock.
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