An unexpected rise in new claims for unemployment benefit pushed Wall Street stocks slightly lower today as investors remained worried about a lack of hiring.

Wall Street closed out an uneasy May with a solid advance today, even after minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting indicated that inflation pressures raised the chance of another interest rate hike in June. The major indexes ended the month broadly lower.

Stocks rose today as encouraging signs of economic growth eased investors’ fears of a business slowdown.