Shares of retailers and other consumer-services companies rose led by consumer discretionary shares.
Filings for jobless benefits last week fell for the first time in four weeks as employers continue to eschew layoffs amid a tight labor market.
Conagra Brands said it expects higher inflation for its full year and posted lower quarterly profit, as sales slipped from last year's surge in at-home food demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Escalating costs and supply-chain challenges are squeezing major U.S. food companies, boosting food costs and hampering the flow of staples to grocery-store shelves.
Levi Strauss shares climbed nearly 9% Thursday after the jeans company topped Wall Street estimates for the quarter and hiked its outlook for the year. The company also said that much of its cotton prices have been negotiated for the first half of 2022, quelling some investor fears about a surge in prices.
Write to Amy Pessetto at amy.pessetto@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
10-07-21 1655ET
