S&P 500 opens flat as vaccine cheer offsets high jobless claims

The S&P 500 opened largely flat on Thursday as hopes of a swift COVID-19 vaccine-driven recovery and economic stimulus countered worries about rising coronavirus cases and high unemployment.

The S&P 500 opened lower by just 0.73 points at 3,668.28.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 37.04 points, or 0.12 percent, at the open to 29,920.83, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 19.89 points, or 0.16 percent, to 12,369.26 at the opening bell.