Stocks are trading slightly higher today after recent declines due to ongoing euro zone problems. A better than expected jobless claims report has investors feeling a bit better today and has kept their minds away from Europe. Weekly jobless claims fell 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 367,000. Analysts were expecting a slight increase to 369,000.

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Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said the financial sector including banks have improved, but could still do more. Bernanke did not say anything about monetary policy in prepared remakrs at a Chicago banking conference.

The Dow is up 42 points, the Nasdaq is down 0.30 points and the S&P 500 is up 5 points. [Read more...]