The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost -49.84 (-0.36%) to close at 13,860.58.

The Dow is a mere 304 points from its all-time high in October of 2007.

The Dow ended the month up 5.8 percent, its strongest January since 1994. The Standard & Poor’s 500 finished the month 5 percent higher, its best start to a year since 1997.

Dow stock winners were led by TRV (+1.13%), T (+0.90%), HPQ (+0.67%), MCD (+0.65%) and AA (+0.45%).

Dow stock losers were led by UTX (-1.72%), UNH (-1.55%), INTC (-1.54%), MSFT (-1.44%) and CVX (-1.12%).

Initial jobless claims increased to 368,000 versus 330,000 for the week ending January 19. This was above consensus estimates of 345,000.

Continuing claims increased from an upwardly revised 3.175 million in the week ending January 12 to 3.198 million for the week ending January 19. This was slightly below consensus estimates predicting an increase to 3.200 million.

Personal income rose in December, adding 2.6 percent after rising 1 percent in November. This was ahead of consensus estimates calling for an increase of 0.7 percent.

Personal spending was up, but came in below consensus. Personal spending rose 0.2 percent for December after increasing 0.4 percent in November. Estimates called for a 0.3 percent increase.

Crude oil was mixed on Thursday. NYMEX crude contracts, the U.S. benchmark, fell 0.48 percent to $97.47.

Brent futures were last trading up around 0.61 percent to $115.60 as the WTI/Brent spread tightened.

Natural gas was trading around the flat-line at $3.34.

COMEX gold futures were trading down more than 1 percent late in the day to $1,663.

Silver contracts had lost more than 2.30 percent to $31.43.

Yields were lower by one basis point in the 2-Year, 10-Year and 30-Year Bond on the day. The 5-Year Note yield was unchanged at 0.88 percent.

The U.S. dollar was lower.

The EUR/USD was close to unchanged at $1.3574.

The greenback was around 0.26 percent higher against the Yen to 91.3800.

The GBP/USD was up 0.40 percent and the USD/CAD was down around 0.44 percent.

Volatility as measured by (VIX), finished up. Rising 0.14 percent to 14.34.

Volume remained noticeably light despite earnings season.