JOB WEAKNESS: A surprise spike in first-time jobless claims disappointed investors and sent stocks moderately lower. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 5 points.
TRIED TO RALLY: The Dow recouped much of its losses for the day, having been down as much as 68, but still ended the day down.
WAITING FOR THE BIG ONE: Trading volume was extraordinarily light, and many investors were waiting on the sidelines ahead of the Labor Department%27s highly anticipated monthly report on payrolls, which is due out Friday.