Initial jobless claims fell by 2,000 to 231,000, broadly in line with market expectations for a reading of 232,000, supporting the belief that the US labour market was softening, as highlighted by a marked downward revision to nonfarm payrolls for the year ended 31 March.

Continuing claims rose by 13,000 to 1.86m, while the four-week moving average , which aims to strip out week-to-week volatility, fell by 4,750 to 231,500. The non-seasonally adjusted monthly print declined by 628 to 191,835.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com