U.S. stocks opened modestly lower on Thursday, pressured by some weak economic data, as well as by quarterly results from Verizon Communications [S: VZ] and Travelers Cos. Inc. [S: TRV], both of which fell in morning trading. Jobless claims rose in the latest week, while a read on regional manufacturing retreated from a 19-month high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average [S: DJIA] fell 24 points, or 0.1%, to 18,179.5. Verizon and Travelers were among the biggest losers among Dow components; Verizon fell 2% while Travelers lost 2.5%. The S&P 500 [S: SPX] fell 3.9 points, or 0.2%, to 2,139.73. The Nasdaq Composite Index [S: COMP] fell 9 points, or 0.2%, to 5,237.
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