Initial unemployment claims above in the 24.>

US DATA: Initial unemployment claims above expectations in the Nov 24 

holiday wk, +10k to 234k vs 220k expected. Claims were unrev at 224k in 

Nov 17 wk. The timing and proximity of holidays in November makes the 

data less reliable.

- NSA claims -8,651 to 217,834 in the current wk, below the 224,851 

level a year ago. The drop was milder than the 17,508 decline seasonal 

factors expected. 

- The 4-wk moving avg +4,750 to 223,250 in the Nov 24 wk. The avg would 

rise further next week if there is no revision to the headline figure 

as the 214k level in Nov 3 week rolls out.

- Continuing claims +50k to 1.710m in the Nov 17 employment survey wk, 

+72k from the 1.638m level in the Oct 13 employment survey week. 

- Claims were not estimated for any states.