Dow, S&P 500 close lower as Nasdaq Composite ekes out back-to-back gains in volatile Thursday action

U.S. equity markets on Thursday finished well off session lows, with the Nasdaq Composite booking consecutive gains but the S&P 500 and the Dow notching slight losses, as investors parsed economic reports ahead of a key gathering of policy makers next week. The turbulence in the session, similar to what the market has exhibited over the past week, came even as August retail sales produced an unexpected rise and a measure of activity in the Philadelphia Federal Reserve district that was stronger than expected. The Nasdaq Composite Index closed 0.1% higher at 15,182, on a preliminary basis, enough for its second straight gain; the S&P 500 index finished down 0.2% at around 4,474; while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2% to about 34,751. Data showed August retail sales rose 0.7%, defying forecasts for a 0.7% fall. Excluding autos, sales jumped 1.8%, compared with expectations for a rise of 0.2%. Separately, the Philadelphia Fed's activity index jumped to 30.7 in September from 19.4 a month earlier. At the same time, data showed first-time claims for unemployment benefits rose more than expected in the week ending Sept. 11, though continuing claims fell. In corporate news, AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. announced in August it would accept bitcoin for online ticket and concession purchases before the end of the year. Thursday's trade was informed by a big pullback in China stocks, with the Shanghai Composite ending down 1.3%. Investors are looking ahead to the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting that kicks off on Sept. 21.

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