Stocks slightly lower...Jobless claims rise...Mortgage rates inch higher

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are edging lower in early trading on Wall Street. Materials companies and banks are down the most. Oil is continuing its recent multi-day slide.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid has risen, but remains at a level that suggests hiring is healthy. The Labor Department says applications for unemployment benefits rose 14,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 266,000. The less volatile four-week average slipped by 1,000 to 256,500. The number of people seeking aid has been below 300,000 for 73 straight weeks, the longest streak since 1973.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mortgage rates are higher for a second straight week, though still near historically low levels. Mortgage giant Freddie Mac says the average for the benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 3.48 percent this week from 3.45 percent last week. The average rate is down sharply from 3.98 percent a year ago. The average rate for 15-year fixed mortgages increased to 2.78 percent from 2.75 percent.

NEW YORK (AP) — Oracle is buying cloud company NetSuite in a deal valued at about $9.3 billion. NetSuite Inc. stockholders will receive $109 per share, a 62 percent premium to the company's closing price yesterday of $67.42. The transaction is expected to close this year.

BARNSTABLE, Mass. (AP) — The man who founded the Christmas Tree Shops discount retail chain has died. Charles Bilezikian (bihl-uh-ZIHK'-ee-un) was 79. He and his wife, Doreen, bought a small seasonal holiday gift shop in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, in 1970, and later opened more stores in Massachusetts. The chain was sold in 2003 to Bed Bath & Beyond. There are now about 70 Christmas Tree Shops locations in 21 states.

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