U.S. jobless claims signal labour market strength after rough patch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing applications for jobless benefits fell marginally last week in a sign of labour market strength, with claims appearing to stabilise after drifting higher in recent months.Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 216,000 for the week ended Dec. 22, the Labor Department said on Thursday.Initial claims have now fallen in three of the last four weeks and are just above the 49-year low of 202,000..