Thursday morning headlines

Stocks wavering: Bouncing around the line as attention focuses on Washington and the debt ceiling. Dow is up about 25 points.

Debt update: House is scheduled to vote later today on Speaker John Boehner's deficit-reduction measure. Vote is said to be extremely close (though I'm guess that it'll get through).

Jobless claims fall: First time since early April that weekly filings have been below the 400,000 level, perhaps indicating that the labor market is stabilizing. (Reuters)

Higher property assessments: First time in three years that real estate values in L.A. and OC counties have increased. This suggests a market that is slowly recovering. From the LAT:

In Los Angeles County, property rolls gained $16.2 billion in value in the last fiscal year to $1.1 trillion -- driven largely by sales and changes in ownership of residential property, as well as new construction. In Orange County, the rise was $3.6 billion, raising the county's total taxable value to $420 billion. The increase in assessments using the formula established when voters approved Proposition 13 in 1978 was tempered, however, by the fact that the true sales value of properties declined over the same period.

Hearing on downtown stadium: City officials were questioned on L.A.'s financial exposure to the proposed facility. Another hearing is scheduled for tonight. (LAT)

Big Marina property is sold: The 20-acre site across Jefferson Boulevard from Playa Vista, formerly a post office distribution center, will be turned into offices aimed at tenants in creative fields. Purchase price is $44 million. (LAT)