The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 50 points, or 0.5%, to 10 222 with about an hour to get in trade. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 3 points to 2182 and the Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 3 points to share 1073, putting everything but the Nasdaq on its way to losing a second straight week.
A weakening in the euro on Friday, reminded investors of the continuing concerns of sovereign debt, and added to the thrust of the week and pull between the promotion of corporate news and economic data weaker than expected. The resurgence of activity against the highest levels since late 2009 in contrast to lingering memories of the struggle for global economic recovery.
"There has been the realization that the economy in the second half of this year - and therefore corporate profits - will be more modest than when many people thought it would last six months," said Adrian Cronje, a partner and head of Balentine investments.
Some investors expressed optimism, saying the market had focused too much on numbers of jobs in the short term. "We have recovered from the worst recession we've seen in modern history," said Roy Williams, executive director of Prestige Wealth Management. He said he expects the numbers to show an upturn in employment and retail spending, despite the volatility that allowed one of the pillars would be through the fall.
Leading the Dow's decline on Friday, Hewlett-Packard dropped 2.4%. The technology giant's profits rose 6.1% on higher sales worldwide in its fiscal third quarter, its last quarter with Mark Hurd at its helm. But investors have been skittish about HP since Mr. Hurd left the company two weeks ago.
Components with significant exposure abroad weakened after the euro hit a one-month minimum follow the suggestion of a European Central Bank official that monetary policy should remain loose until next year. Caterpillar fell 0.7%, General Electric slid 1.4% and manufacturing giant 3M fell 1.3%.
Energy stocks led the decline in S & P 500, as prices of crude oil fell 1.2% below and 74 per barrel. Star Agee & Leach cut its ratings on equity investment in land drillers to "neutral" from "buy," citing the rising costs of services, among other factors. Nabors Industries fell 3.8% while UTI-Patterson Energy fell 2.9% and Helmerich & Payne slipped 2.6%.
In currency markets, the euro rose above 1.27 and, recently ceased trading and 1.2713, but still below 1.2819 and Thursday night in New York. U.S. Dollar Index, which tracks the currency against a basket of six other people, rose 0.7%. The demand for Treasuries as a safe haven fell, pushing the yield on the 10 years up to 2.62%. The yield on two-year overnight success a record low of 0.455%, but increased in recent operations of 0.495%.
"We are in this way mediocre and low growth until another year or so passes. To me, that's what I said again this week," said Barbara Marcin, portfolio manager of the Gabelli Blue Chip Value Fund, said industrial production has yet to regain its pre-recession level. "We're not back to levels they were a couple of years ago, so people are not going to hire, and until we get job growth back, we will not restore confidence."
August Light trade has kept the market bounced in a narrow range. With less than an hour left in trading, approximately 2.9 billion shares had changed hands in New York Stock Exchange volume on the way to below the daily average of $ 5.1 million.
The actions of guidance, ScanSource rose 5% after its fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 12% on strong revenue growth. The distributor of safety devices sold at a growing number of customers and saw a resurgence of large deals, which more than offset falling margins.
