Summary: Major U.S. markets extended their gains as domestic jobless claims hit a three-month low. The Ukraine's Crimea region will vote on whether to become part of Russia at a referendum later this month, a factor not expected to rock world markets unless military action results. President Obama is threatening sanctions over the vote which some European ministers have called illegal. Utilities were the worst performing sector on Thursday. Jane Searle spoke to Derek Orth at the NYSE.
