U.S. markets mixed Thursday

NEW YORK, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. markets were mixed Thursday on weak employment news and Macy's announcement that it would close 11 stores due to a downturn in sales.

Wal-Mart reported December sales were below expectations, with sales rising only 0.1 percent at its Sam's Club warehouse stores.

By close, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 27.24 points, or 0.31 percent, to 8,742.46. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 0.34 percent, or 3.08 points, to 909.73. The Nasdaq composite index gained 17.95 points, or 1.12 percent, to 1,617.01.

On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,911 stocks advanced and 1,177 declined on a volume of 5.4 billion shares traded.

The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury bond rose 14/32 to yield 2.45 percent.

The euro rose to $1.3723, compared to Wednesday's $1.363. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar fell to 91.07 yen, down from Wednesday's 92.66 yen.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei average dropped 362.82 points to 8,876.42, down 3.93 percent.

In London, the FTSE 100 index fell 0.05 percent, down 2.14 points, to 4,505.37.