US stocks fluctuate after GDP, jobless claims data

Stocks fluctuated in a narrow range early Thursday as investors digested the government's estimate of first-quarter economic growth and an uptick in last week's unemployment claims.

Investors also eyed oil prices, which declined.

The Commerce Department revised its reading of first-quarter gross domestic product to an annual rate of 0.9 percent _ above the department's previous estimate of 0.6 percent, and above fourth-quarter growth of 0.6 percent. Though the data suggest the economy may avoid a technical recession _ defined by two straight quarters of decreasing GDP _ the upward revision was not as big as many investors had hoped.

The Labor …