U.S. stocks opened along the flatline as investors digested a stronger-than-expected jobs report while bracing themselves for a key constitutional referendum in Italy.
The Dow Jones Industrials dropped 22.98 points to 19,168.95, with IBM contributing the most losses.
The S&P 500 climbed 3.84 points to 2,194.92, with financials leading decliners and utilities rising almost 1% to lead advancers.
The NASDAQ composite index gained 9.13 points to 5,259.92,
On the economic beat, the U.S. added 178,000 jobs last month, according to figures released by the U.S. Labor Department, with the unemployment rate falling to 4.6%. Economists expected a gain of 175,000 with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.9%. Wages, however, slumped to 2.5%.
Treasury prices for the 10-year note jumped, lowering yields to 2.39% from Thursday’s 2.44%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices added nine cents to $51.15 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices tacked on $6.80 to $1,176.20 U.S. an ounce.
