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New York - US stocks fell in opening trade on Thursday, with traders unmoved by improved forecasts from the European Central Bank (ECB) and data indicating continued momentum in the US jobs market.
The ECB upgraded slightly its forecasts for both inflation and growth in the eurozone in 2016, as it left its monetary policy unchanged.
Meanwhile US jobless claims, a sign of the pace of layoffs, moved lower and the ADP private-sector jobs report showed an increase of 173 000 positions created in May.
Ten minutes into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.3% at 17 735.94.
The broad-market S&P 500 lost 0.3% at 2 093.70, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite edged down 0.2% to 4 940.20.
"All in all, market participants don't seem to be all that impressed by the early headlines," said Patrick O'Hare of Briefing.com.
Markets were expected to stay cautious ahead of Friday's official US jobs report for May, which if strong could confirm expectations that the Federal Reserve will tighten policy with an interest rate hike either this month or next.
