Major business events and economic events scheduled for Thursday:

WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.

WASHINGTON — The Conference Board releases the Consumer Confidence Index for December, 10 a.m.

WASHINGTON — Commerce Department releases new home sales for November, 10 a.m.

WASHINGTON — Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates, 10 a.m.