U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday due to a relatively weak job report.
The Labor Department said Friday that employers added 103,000 jobs in December, an improvement from November. However, the number was below most economists' expectations.
The nation's unemployment rate declined to 9.4 percent last month, the lowest level in 19 months. That meant although more people found jobs, some others just gave up looking for jobs.
Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke confirmed Friday that it will take years for unemployment to drop to normal levels.
Over the past three months, the economy has added an average of 128,000 jobs. Investors believed that the jobs figure will continue to be an important factor behind the performance of the U. S. economy and the market.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 22.55 points, or 0.19 percent, to 11,674.76. The Standard & Poor's 500 index declined 2. 35 points, or 0.18 percent, to 1,271.50 and the Nasdaq was down 6. 72 points, or 0.25 percent, to 2,703.17.
