Stocks Rise Ahead of Non-farm Payrolls

Stocks closed fractionally higher on Thursday as traders turned their attention to tomorrow's monthly employment report.

The Dow lost +20.20, the Nasdaq Composite +1.90, and the S&P 500 +1.78.

Shares of Research In Motion (RIMM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) rose 5.9% after the company reported earnings per share more than doubled from a year ago.

Micron Technology (MU | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) gained 6.3%, despite reporting a worse than expected loss of $0.41 per share.

Constellation Brands (STZ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) swung to a fourth quarter loss, but the company beat estimates and raised its year end forecast. STZ shares closed 5.3% higher.

Schnitzer Steel (SCHN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) reported much better than expected earnings and raised its outlook. SCHN rose 4.1%.

The commodities boom was back in focus today, with corn rising above $6 per bushel for the first time ever and rice also hitting a record high.

The dollar was little virtually unchanged ahead of non-farm payrolls.