Crude Oil Gains Over 1%; US Weekly Jobless Claims Increase

1. U.S. stocks rose; S&P 500 gained 0.61% to 5,710.13. 2. Initial jobless claims increased by 2,000 to 223,000, close to estimates. 3. U.S. existing home sales increased by 4.2% in February. 4. Sector performance mixed; communication services rose, consumer staples slightly fell. 5. European markets fell; contrasting U.S. market performance.