U. S.  Jobless claims rise to 1.1 million in latest week. Latest data indicate layoffs remain elevated as labor market slowly improves. The unemployment rate was 10.2% in July.

Apple surges to $2 trillion market value. It became the first U. S. public company to eclipse $2 trillion in market value. Consumers' reliance on technology is driving growth for Apple and other large internet companies such as Amazon.com Inc.