Stocks End Mostly Lower Ahead Of July Jobs Report

Stocks ended Thursday’s session mostly on the downside, although selling was limited by hesitation ahead of tomorrow’s landmark jobs data. Some downside in today’s session was generated by a surprise jump in weekly jobless claims and lower than expected comparable store sales growth by a number of major U.S. retailers. The Dow fell by more than 5 points, inching down off of the nearly two-month closing high set on Wednesday.