Weekly U.S. unemployment benefit applications likely were little changed last week after falling to a level consistent with modest hiring two weeks ago. Economists forecast that applications ticked up 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 345,000, according to a survey by FactSet. The Labor Department will release the report at 8:30 a.m. EDT Thursday. Last week the department said that applications plunged 42,000 to 346,000, reversing a big gain the previous week that had pushed applications to a four-month high. The roller-coaster readings likely reflected volatility around the Easter holiday, the department said. The ... (full story)