U.S. markets closed mixed Thursday after the Labor Department said first-time jobless claims fell by 24,000 in the week that ended Saturday.

Some investors scanned the market for bargains after four consecutive sessions of losses, but the Dow Jones industrial average did not sustain early gains and closed lower for a fifth day as Washington failed to signal a break in a critical budget impasse.

Investors are concerned about the possibility the federal government will default on some obligations should lawmakers fail to agree on a budget plan by Aug. 2.

By the close on Wall Street, the DJIA shed 62.44 points, 0.51 percent, to 12,240.11. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 4.22 points or 0.32 percent to 1,300.67. The Nasdaq composite index added 1.46 points or 0.05 percent to 2,766.25.

On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,139 stocks advanced and 1,865 declined on a volume of 4.3 billion shares traded.

The benchmark 10-year treasury note rose 9/32 to yield 2.947 percent.

The euro fell to $1.4331 from Wednesday’s $1.4369. Against the yen, the dollar fell to 77.74 yen from Wednesday’s 77.99 yen.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index lost 1.45 percent, 145.84, to 9,901.35.

In London, the FTSE 100 index added 0.28 percent, 16.63, to 5,873.21.

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