<p>Wall Street stocks were mostly lower early Thursday following two straight declines on signs the latest uptick in coronavirus cases is dragging down the economic recovery.</p>.<p>The Labor Department reported a sharp increase in new filings for unemployment benefits last week, with the number topping estimates.</p>.<p>The data came as United Airlines reported more flight cancellations from consumers because of Covid-19 and after New York City temporarily suspended classroom teaching at public schools because of the virus.</p>.<p>About 15 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.2 percent at 29,386.49.</p>.<p>The broad-based S&P 500 also shed 0.2 per cent to 3,562.12, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index was flat at 11,801.93.</p>.<p>Both the Dow and S&P 500 ended at records on Monday, but have fallen the last two days amid worries over Covid-19 cases.</p>.<p>Stocks have been boosted by hopes that coronavirus vaccines will support a recovery in 2021.</p>.<p>In the latest positive development, the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca said Thursday their vaccine candidate was shown to safely produce a robust immune response in healthy older adults.</p>
<p>Wall Street stocks were mostly lower early Thursday following two straight declines on signs the latest uptick in coronavirus cases is dragging down the economic recovery.</p>.<p>The Labor Department reported a sharp increase in new filings for unemployment benefits last week, with the number topping estimates.</p>.<p>The data came as United Airlines reported more flight cancellations from consumers because of Covid-19 and after New York City temporarily suspended classroom teaching at public schools because of the virus.</p>.<p>About 15 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.2 percent at 29,386.49.</p>.<p>The broad-based S&P 500 also shed 0.2 per cent to 3,562.12, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index was flat at 11,801.93.</p>.<p>Both the Dow and S&P 500 ended at records on Monday, but have fallen the last two days amid worries over Covid-19 cases.</p>.<p>Stocks have been boosted by hopes that coronavirus vaccines will support a recovery in 2021.</p>.<p>In the latest positive development, the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca said Thursday their vaccine candidate was shown to safely produce a robust immune response in healthy older adults.</p>