U.S. stocks finished lower on Thursday ahead of Friday's monthly U.S. payrolls report and as investors kept a watchful eye on the growing conflict in the Middle East. Data on Thursday showed that the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose marginally last week,

Traders are looking ahead to the Friday jobs report, which should give more insight into the strength of the economy and the Fed's next rate move.

Wall Street was poised to open slightly lower on Thursday after a moderate rise in jobless claims sparked worries about the health of the labor market, while cautious investors kept an eye on the Middle East for any escalation in hostilities.