NEW YORK, June 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower Thursday as U.S. jobless rose by most in five weeks and Leading Index declined by most in 9 months.

    The Labor Department reported that 308,000 people filed for jobless benefits last week, a bigger-than-expected increase of 11,000 from the previous week. The four-week moving average for claims was 311,250, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised average of 316,250.

    The Conference Board reported Thursday that the Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators declined 0.6 percent in May, the third decline in the last six months and by most in 9 months.

    The Federal Reserve was expected to rise interest rates against inflation at its next meeting on June 28-29.

    Rising interest rates worried Wall Street because they can squeeze corporate profits and curb consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity.

    At the closing time, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 60.35, or 0.54 percent, to 11,019.11. The Standard & Poor's 500 index slid 6.60, or 0.53 percent, to 1,245.60, and the Nasdaq composite index lost 18.22, or 0.85 percent, to 2,122.98. Enditem