Data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, pointing to continued labor market strength, which could persuade the Fed to keep raising rates further. Facebook parent Meta Platforms and Snapchat operator Snap Inc rose 0.59% and 7.35%, respectively, after the U.S. administration threatened to impose a ban on TikTok. Weak retail sales figures, as well as data showing a downward trend in producer inflation, on Wednesday had bolstered bets of a small rate hike by the Federal Reserve at its meet concluding on March 22.