U.S. markets wobble at the start

U.S. markets dropped after an initial push higher Thursday, as investors contemplated jobless claims, an interest rate decision in Europe and Greek debt. Weekly first-time jobless claim figures came in better than expected with 15,000 fewer claims filed than the previous week, the Labor Department said. In Germany, the European Central Bank said it would keep its key lending rate at 1 percent. Also in Europe, negotiations on Greece qualifying for continued international aid moved to Brussels from Athens, where political leaders reached agreement on an austerity budget. In midmorning trading on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average gave up 10.75 points or 0.08 percent to 12,873.20. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 1.76 points or 0.13 percent to 1,348.20. The Nasdaq composite index shed 0.44 points or 0.02 percent to 2,915.42. The benchmark 10-year treasury note fell 16/32 to yield 2.04 percent. The euro rose to $1.3291 from Wednesday's $1.3261. Against the yen, the dollar rose to 77.36 yen from Wednesday's 77.04 yen. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index dropped 0.15 percent, 13.35, to 9,002.24.