Thursday's economic data was mixed. A gauge of business activity in the Midwest execeeded expectations in October, while weekly initial jobless claims dipped in the latest week. The Labor Department's October employment report will be an important source of clues about the economy and future Fed action. Until the figures, due Nov. 8, are released "we're going to drift. We need something to send us higher", said Brian Battle, director of trading at Performance Trust Capital.
