Market ends lower on banks, lackluster jobs data
US stocks fell after a court ruling in a key foreclosure case prompted investors to pull out of bank stocks, adding to weakness after a lackluster jobs report.
The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 22.55 points, or 0.19 percent, to 11,674.76. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was off 2.35 points, or 0.18 percent, to 1,271.50. The Nasdaq Composite Index declined 6.72 points, or 0.25 percent, to 2,703.17.
European stocks fell slightly as worries about the euro zone intensified ahead of debt auctions next week, and US data showed far fewer jobs were created in December than forecast.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares fell 0.25 percent to close at 1,144.39 points. Over the week, the index gained 2 percent and is up more than 77 percent from its lifetime low in March 2009.
Nikkei average edged up to a fresh eight-month closing peak, after being trapped in tight range, as investors stayed cautious ahead of key US jobs data, while a drop in commodity prices was offset by a strong performance in Chinese equities.The benchmark Nikkei ended the day up 0.1 percent or 11.28 points at 10,541.04. Its immediate resistance now looms at its May 14 peak of 10,551.69.
The broader Topix index gained 0.2 percent to 926.42.
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