Stocks edged lower on Thursday as an unexpected rise in initial jobless claims and unimpressive July retail sales dimmed optimism ahead of the monthly payrolls report.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 5.45 points, or 0.05 percent, at 10,674.98. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 1.43 points, or 0.13 percent, at 1,125.81. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 10.51 points, or 0.46 percent, at 2,293.06.

(Reporting by Angela Moon, Editing by)

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