WALL Street stocks drifted following the release of mixed economic data, with blue-chip issues ending softer as the broad market firmed.

New York Stock Exchange volume was moderate at just over 300 million shares, down from Wednesday's pace. Broad-market indexes were firmer despite a continued sell-off in technology shares.

The Labour Department said new jobless benefits claims rose 32,000 last week to the highest level since late January. That was less than economists expected, suggesting the economy is stronger than they had thought.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by 1,235 to 1,137 on the New York Stock Exchange, with 752 unchanged. The NYSE's composite index fell 0.14 to 348.06. The Standard & Poors 500-stock index fell 1.78 to 649.20.

The Nasdaq composite index fell 1.68 to 1,100.14. At the American Stock Exchange, the market value index rose 1.05 to 568.32.