Planned layoffs drop to 20-month low, unemployment claims drop

(Reuters) - The number of planned layoffs at U.S. companies dropped for a third straight month in August and hit a 20-month low, a report showed on Thursday.

FoxBusiness: New claims for unemployment benefits fell to 365,000 from an upwardly revised 377,000 the week prior. Claims were expected to fall to 370,000 from an initially reported 374,000.  

Fox Business: The Institute for Supply Management's gauge of service-sector activity rose to 53.7 in August, the highest level since May, from 52.6 in July. The index was expected to fall slightly to 52.5.