The Labor Department said the number of people requesting unemployment benefits for the first time fell to the lowest level in two months, adding to signs that employers aren't resorting to staff cuts as economic growth slows.

First-time claims fell to 451,000 last week from a revised 478,000 a week earlier. Economists had been expecting claims to fall to 470,000, according to Thomson Reuters.

Claims are still at levels that indicate the jobs market is weak and rapid hiring isn't likely anytime soon. But investors have taken solace in recent improvements in employment data that suggest the economy will continue to grow slowly during the rest of the year. Traders concerned about the potential for the economy falling back into recession drove stocks lower throughout August.

But stocks have rallied since the beginning of the month as economic indicators, including the Labor Department's monthly employment report, have been better than forecast.

Employment reports have become investors' primary focus recently because without robust hiring, the economy is likely to remain sluggish. People worried about their jobs have cut back on spending, which further slows the recovery. When the economy is growing rapidly and companies are hiring, weekly requests for unemployment benefits fall below 400,000.

Ahead of the opening bell, Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 54, or 0.5 percent, to 10,446. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures rose 7.20, or 0.7 percent, to 1,106.50, while Nasdaq 100 index futures rose 13.50, or 0.7 percent, to 1,891.00.

That Dow has gained 3.7 percent since the beginning of September. Stocks have climbed all but one day so far this month. Major indexes took a pause from the recent rally on Tuesday when worries about European government debt problems flared up early in the week.

After some European nations successfully auctioned new debt this week, those worries have dissipated. European markets got an additional lift after the U.S. jobs report. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 1.1 percent, Germany's DAX index gained 0.8 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 1.2 percent.

There were concerns during the spring that mounting European debt would stunt a global recovery. Stocks fell sharply through much of the spring because of those worries.

Meanwhile, bond prices traded in a tight range. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 2.68 percent from 2.66 percent late Wednesday. Its yield is often used to help set interest rates on mortgages and other consumer loans.

The Shuman Law Firm today announced that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of purchasers of the common stock of CVB Financial Corporation between October 21, 2009 and August 9, 2010, inclusive (the "Class Period").

If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights and interests with respect to this matter, please contact Kip B. Shuman or Rusty E. Glenn toll free at (866) 974-8626 or email Mr. Shuman at kip@shumanlawfirm.com or Mr. Glenn at rusty@shumanlawfirm.com.

The Complaint alleges that CVB and certain of its officers and directors violated federal securities laws by making a series of materially false and misleading statements. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that defendants had propped up the Company's results by manipulating CVB's accounting for costs and expenses by failing to properly account for impaired loans. On August 9, 2010, defendants disclosed that the Company was the subject of an investigation by the SEC into possible accounting violations related to the manner in which defendants accounted for troubled loans. This disclosure had an immediate impact on the price of Company shares, which fell 22% to close at $8.00 per share on August 10, 2010.

If you purchased CVB common stock during the Class Period, you may request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff of the class no later than October 22, 2010. A lead plaintiff is a class member that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Although your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision whether or not to seek appointment as a lead plaintiff, lead plaintiffs make important decisions which could affect the overall recovery for class members.

The Shuman Law Firm represents investors throughout the nation, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative actions.

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") (www.ksfcounsel.com), a nationally recognized Louisiana-based law firm, and KSF partner Charles C. Foti, Jr., former Attorney General of Louisiana, announce that a class action securities case was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of purchasers of Beckman Coulter, Inc. ("Beckman Coulter") (NYSE: BEC | PowerRating) common stock during the period between July 31, 2009 and July 22, 2010, inclusive (the "Class Period").

If you are an BEC shareholder who has suffered losses on your investment during this period and would like to receive a copy of this complaint and discuss your rights as class members and/or apply for lead plaintiff, you may, without obligation or cost to you, prior to November 2, 2010, e-mail or call Managing Partner, Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), toll free at 1-866-467-1400, ext. 200, or after hours via cell phone 504-301-7900 or, KSF Director of Client Relations, Neil Rothstein, Esq. (neil.rothstein@ksfcounsel.com), toll free at 877/694-9510, or via cell phone 330/860-4092. You may also visit KSF's website at www.ksfcounsel.com to contact the firm online. A "lead plaintiff" is a representative party that acts on behalf of other class members in directing and controlling the litigation. To learn more about KSF and how becoming a lead plaintiff may benefit you, you may contact Mr. Kahn or Mr. Rothstein.

On July 22, 2010, Beckman reported results for 2Q:10 well below guidance, in substantial part due to quality and compliance issues related to its Troponin product. Following these belated disclosures, shares of Beckman collapsed -- falling $12.64 per share to close at $47.26 per share on July 23, 2010 -- a single day decline of 21%.

Accordingly, the complaint charges that, during the Class Period, defendants concealed the following: (a) that, Beckman failed to disclose that it had modified its Troponin test kits without proper approval from the Food and Drug Administration; (b) that, defendants failed to maintain proper controls and procedures related to regulatory compliance and product quality; (c) that, Beckman failed to disclose the adverse impact the Troponin quality and compliance issues was already having and, forseeably, would continue to have on Becman's financial results; and (d) that, Beckman's revenue and earnings guidance for 2010 was not foreseeable, and lacked a reasonable basis.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff in this class action lawsuit
, you must request this position by application to the court no later than November 2, 2010. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. KSF is a law firm focused on securities class action litigation with offices in New York and Louisiana. KSF's lawyers have significant experience litigating complex securities class actions.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Managing Partner

Lewis Kahn

toll free at 1-866-467-1400, ext. 200