Initial unemployment claims were in line in.>

US DATA: Initial unemployment claims were in line with expectations in 

the Aug 25 wk, +3k to 213k as expected. Claims were unrevised from 210k

in the August 18 wk.  

- The 4-wk moving avg -1,500 to 212,250 in the Aug 25 wk. The avg 

would fall next week if the headline figure does not change as the        

214,000 level in the Aug 4 wk rolls out.                                     

- NSA claims +2,090 to 175,421 in the current wk, compared with the    

no change that seasonal factors expected in the week. The current wk's    

level is well below the year ago level of 196,227.                      

- Claims were estimated for Maine.                                      

- Continuing claims -20k to 1.708m in the August 18 employment survey 

wk, down 39,000 from the 1.747m level in the July 14 employment survey 

wk. The 4-wk avg -4,500 to 1.731m.