Premarket roundup: Jobless claims, foreign trade

Among the premarket activity stories for Thursday, Sept. 11, from AP Financial News:

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Government data is expected to show that the number of newly laid-off people filing jobless benefit claims dipped slightly last week but remains at elevated levels due to the sluggish economy.

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The U.S. trade deficit has likely resumed an upward climb, pushed higher by record oil prices in July.

NEW YORK (AP) _ A Jefferies & Co. Inc. analyst on Thursday initiated coverage on shares of grocery store chain Whole Foods Market Inc. with a "Buy" rating, saying the company could beat its profit guidance next year despite the slowing economy.

NEW YORK (AP) _ A JPMorgan analyst downgraded shares of Medarex Inc. Thursday, saying the stock will trade in place until the second half of 2009, when Medarex reports critical late-stage trial data for its melanoma drug candidate ipilimumab.

NEW YORK (AP) _ An analyst downgraded H.B. Fuller Co. Thursday, saying the manufacturer of sealants, paints and other specialty chemicals faces slowing demand and other troubles.

NEW YORK (AP) _ A Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analyst on Thursday cut her profit estimates on Goldman Sachs Group Inc. on expectations for lower equities trading revenue.