Initial unemployment claims were well above.>

US DATA: Initial unemployment claims were well above estimates in the 

March 3 week, +21k to 231k, after hitting a decades-low level in the 

previous week. Claims were expected to rise to only 220k.

- Even with the rebound, the level of claims remains well below the 

252k level in the comparable week a year earlier.

- The 4-wk moving avg +2,000 to 222,500, and could tick up further next 

week as the 229k level in Feb 10 week rolls out. Still, the underlying 

level of claims remains very low. 

- Unadj claims +30,519 to 226,450 in the current week, a larger increase 

than seasonal factors expected, but below the year ago level of 243,959.

- Claims were estimated in Colorado and Maine and have still not 

returned to normal in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 

- Continuing claims -64k to 1.870m in the Feb 24 week, the lowest since 

the Nov 4 week, after a 59k rise in the previous week.