U.S. markets defy upbeat data

The trade gap fell 6.6 percent to $37.3 billion, despite a prediction it would rise to $40.8 billion.

The Labor Department said there were 6,000 fewer first-time unemployment claims in the week ending March 6.

Investors shrugged off the good news. In early afternoon trading, the Dow Jones industrial average shed 4 points, 0.04 percent, to 10,563.33. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 0.11 percent, 1.29 points, to 1,144.32. The Nasdaq composite index of tech-dominated stock lost 0.13 percent, 2.95 points, to 2,356.00.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell 1/32 to yield 3.723 percent.

The euro rose to $1.3676 from Wednesday's $1.3651. Against the yen, the dollar fell to 90.50 from Wednesday's 90.54 yen.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index added 101.03 points, 0.96 percent, to 10,664.95.

In Britain, the FTSE 100 index dropped 0.41 percent, 23.31, to 5,617.26,

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