US stocks slipped on Friday after a mixed payrolls report showed that while the US unemployment rate dropped sharply last month, the number of new jobs barely grew. Major indexes faced resistance after the Dow opened above the 12,000 mark for a third consecutive day.
The Dow Jones industrial average was down 22.93 points, or 0.19 percent, at 12,039.33. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 3.31 points, or 0.25 percent, at 1,303.79. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 0.70 points, or 0.03 percent, at 2,753.18. Both the Dow and the S&P 500 remain near their 2 1/2-year highs reached last Tuesday.