A weak open for US stocks as investors consider job numbers
By Associated Press
Sep 4, 2015 8:41 AM CDT
FILE - This July 15, 2013 file photo shows the New York Stock Exchange in New York. Global stock markets fell sharply Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, ahead of the release of monthly U.S. jobs figures that could well determine whether the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates later this month, a prospect...   (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are opening lower after two days of gains as traders look over the latest report on the U.S. job market.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 225 points, or 1.4 percent, to 16,157 in the first few minutes of trading Friday.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index gave up 23 points, or 1.2 percent, to 1,927. The Nasdaq composite slipped 52 points, or 1 percent, to 4,682.

The government reported that the unemployment rate fell to a seven-year low in August as employers added a modest 173,000 jobs.

The report will be a key factor as Federal Reserve officials decide whether to start raising interest rates.

European markets fell after big gains the day before.

U.S. government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.14 percent.