US stocks opened mixed amid fiscal cliff concerns

NEW YORK - US stocks opened mixed amid fiscal cliff concerns and better-than-expected jobless data.

Investors kept a close watch on the ongoing fiscal cliff talks and most of them do not expect a final deal this week.

On the economic front, initial jobless claims declined 12,000 to 350,000 last week, beating forecasts.

Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of claims, considered a more steady measure, declined to 356,750, the lowest since March 2008.

Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 23.10 points, or 0.18 percent, to 13,137.69. The Standard & Poor's 500 was up 2.71 points, or 0.19 percent, at 1,422.61. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 2.40 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,991.88.