Business Today: Wall Street closes up on tech gains, S&P near 1,600

	Click to View in Browser 05/2/2013 Wall Street closes up on tech gains, S&P near 1,600 NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks closed about 1 percent higher on Thursday, led by tech shares, after weekly jobless claims figures pointed to improving labor market conditions a day before the closely watched monthly payroll report. AIG beats estimates as property and casualty business shines (Reuters) - Insurer American International Group Inc reported a quarterly profit that beat analysts' estimates, driven primarily by higher operating income in its property and casualty business. Jobless claims fall sharply to five-year low WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new jobless benefits claims fell sharply last week to its lowest level since the early days of the 2007-09 recession, a sign the job market is still healing even though the economy remains weak. Kraft Foods profit beats Street, shares rise (Reuters) - Kraft Foods Group Inc reported quarterly earnings that far exceeded Wall Street estimates on Thursday, sending its shares higher. Glencore sticks to its own for top jobs in merged group LONDON (Reuters) - Commodities trader Glencore has turned to its own internal talent for the team that will run trader and miner Glencore Xstrata after the sector's biggest takeover to date, according to a source familiar with the company. LinkedIn second-quarter revenue forecast falls short of targets SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - LinkedIn Corp forecast second-quarter revenue that fell short of expectations, sending its shares down roughly 8 percent in after hours trading on Thursday. MGM assessing costs of operating online poker in Nevada LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - MGM Resorts International CFO Dan D'Arrigo said the company was still deciding whether or not to launch an Internet poker website in Nevada and the state may be too small to provide a lucrative online market on a standalone basis. GM profit tops view as North America strong, Europe improves DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co posted stronger-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday as the U.S. automaker kept a tight grip on costs in its North American and European businesses. Maker's Mark mistake fuels big Beam profit (Reuters) - A public relations disaster pumped up Beam Inc's first-quarter profit. British court hears Goldman deal was face saver LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's tax authority approved a deal with Goldman Sachs partly because the U.S. bank was threatening to pull out of a new tax code, which would have embarrassed the government, a court heard on Thursday. Related Video Daily Digit: GM sells 762,000 cars in North America FACTBOX: GM beats Ford in Europe for now... Economic News Jobless claims fall sharply to five-year low Bloomberg makes final adjustments to NYC's fiscal year 2014 budget A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend