Stocks Flat as Jobless Ranks Grow

Stocks crept slightly higher today, with the Dow up 22 points and the Nasdaq and S&P up 10.42 and 2.48 respectively. Wal-Mart gained 1% on an earnings report precisely in line with expectations, and Kohl’s better-than-expected number sent it up 2%. But any optimism was offset by a 32,000 jump in jobless claims. A record 6.56 million are now drawing unemployment benefits. (More stock market stories.)