<p>U.S. stocks rose slightly in early trade after stronger-than-expected jobs data and a rise in exports.<br /><br />The Commerce Department reported that the U.S. trade deficit shrank 5.1 percent to $41.55 billion in September, the smallest deficit in almost two years. The report beat economists’ expectations, suggesting economic growth in the U.S. may have been faster in the third-quarter than previously reported. Exports soared 3.1 percent, the biggest increase in more than a year.<br /><br />A separate report showed a better-than-expected drop in weekly first-time claims for unemployment benefits. The Labor Department said that initial claims for state jobless benefits dropped 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 355,000.<br /><br />Analysts predict the event s of Hurricane Sandy could impact the data in the coming weeks.<br /><br />Several companies are gearing up to release earnings reports after the U.S. market closes on Thursday. Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) is scheduled to report fourth quarter earnings results, while Groupon Inc. (Nasdaq: GRPN), Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN), along with technology company Nvidia Corp. (Nasdaq: NVDA) and energy company PPL Corp. (NYSE: PPL) are releasing third-quarter results.<br /><br />Groupon plunged 5 percent to an all-time low of $3.83 last Friday after an SEC review and on concerns that Hurricane Sandy will lower the demand for daily deals. According to a poll by FactSet, analysts expect the online deals site to report third-quarter earnings of 4 cents per share. The company’s stock has lost nearly 80 percent of its value since going public at $20 per share in November 2011. Groupon jumped 4.26 percent to $3.92 in Thursday trade.<br /><br />The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dropped 83.43points, or 0.65 percent, at 12,849.30. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was down 12.71 points, or 0.91 percent, at 1,381.82. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC fell 41.70 points, or 01.42 percent, at 2,899.59.<br /><br />On Wednesday, Stocks plunged as much as 2 percent as the Dow plummeted nearly 300 points. Investors' focus shifted from President Barack Obama's re-election to the looming “fiscal cliff” conflict in Congress and whether it could create another U.S. recession.</p>
