A gauge of US business investment plans fell modestly in August while the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose last week, giving a somewhat cautionary sign for the outlook for US economy.

The Commerce Department said on Thursday non-defence capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, dropped 0.2 per cent last month.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose by 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 267,000 for the week ended September 19th, the Labor Department said.

Reuters