Stocks mixed as investors await jobs report
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange after the ringing the opening bell on April 1, 2014. Credit: Getty Images / Spencer Platt
The stock market held close to its all-time high Thursday amid optimism that the economy is set to strengthen.
Stocks are on course for their best weekly gain in seven weeks after investors got more encouraging news on the economy. A survey showed U.S. service firms increased business more quickly last month as orders rose. Reports earlier in the week showed manufacturing strengthening, hiring picking up and sales of cars and trucks rising.
The news came before the government's monthly jobs report, due Friday. Investors expect to see a strong pickup in hiring. Economists are forecasting that the U.S. economy added 200,000 jobs in March, according to FactSet. That would be the biggest gain in hiring since November.
"If you have a decent economy, a modestly growing economy, that's supportive of corporate earnings and stocks can continue to benefit from that," said John Fox, director of research at Fenimore Asset Management.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 0.11 percent to 1,888.77. The index closed at an all-time high of 1,890 a day earlier. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.45 point to 16,572.55. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.91 percent to 4,237.74. -- AP
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 4: Top football teams in action, fantasy update and plays of the week Gregg Sarra sounds off on the Nassau Conference II football matchup between Calhoun at Carey, plus the comeback story of New Hyde Park's Gabriel Peter, an update on the high school fantasy football standings and the plays of the week.
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 4: Top football teams in action, fantasy update and plays of the week Gregg Sarra sounds off on the Nassau Conference II football matchup between Calhoun at Carey, plus the comeback story of New Hyde Park's Gabriel Peter, an update on the high school fantasy football standings and the plays of the week.
