 The benchmark SP 500 and blue-chip Dow were about 2 and 8 away from their own peaks scaled in February. Economic data released on Thursday painted a mixed picture as Labor Department numbers showed a first fall in jobless claims in three weeks, while a separate report showed a 54 surge in job cuts announced by employers in July. The stocks treading water might be waiting for tomorrows actual number... The other most important thing thats going on is the stimulus bill, and the lack of agreement between the White House and the Democratic party as to what the deal ought to include, said Tom Martin, senior portfolio manager at GLOBALT Investments in Atlanta. 