US jobless claims edge slightly higher

US initial jobless claims rose by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 263,000 in the week ended Aug. 27, the Labor Department said Thursday. The reading came in slightly below the 265,000 new claims expected.     

Continuing unemployment claims, which track workers drawing benefits for more than one week, rose by 14,000 to 2,159,000 in the week ended Aug. 20.