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The number of U.S. workers filing for initial unemployment benefits fell 34,000 to 303,000 for the week ended July 16, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Refrigerated truckload carrier Marten Transport said late Wednesday it earned $6.8 million or 46 cents a share in the second quarter, up from $4.8 million or 33 cents a year earlier.

Covenant Transport Inc. said late Wednesday its net income was $652,000 or 5 cents a share in the second quarter, down from $4.4 million or 30 cents a year earlier.

Truckload carrier Knight Transportation said late Wednesday its net income for the second quarter was $15 million or 26 cents per share, compared with $11.4 million or 20 cents a year earlier.

Third-party logistics provider Hub Group reported record second-quarter net earnings late Wednesday, posting a profit of $7.9 million or 38 cents a share, up 95% from $4 million or 24 cents last year.

Intermodal traffic on U.S. railroads rose 5%, while carload traffic rose 1.2% during the week ending July 16 when compared with the same week last year, according to the weekly rail report by the Association of American Railroads.

UPS Inc. reported Thursday that its net income rose to $986 million or 88 cents a share, up from $818 million or 72 cents a year earlier.

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor. he index of leading U.S. economic indicators rose 0.9% in June, the Conference Board said Thursday.

Wireless-services provider Qualcomm Inc. reported Wednesday that net income for its third quarter ended June 26 rose 15% to $560 million or 33 cents a share, from $486 million or 29 cents a year earlier.