US stock indexes slip in early trading as investors weigh job gains; Retailers lose ground

U.S. stock market indexes slipped in early trading as traders weigh a strong U.S. jobs report.

The government reported early Friday another strong round of hiring in December, while the unemployment rate fell to a six-year low.

Retailers were mostly lower after Macy's said it would close several stores and restructure its marketing operations. Bed Bath & Beyond slumped 5 percent after its sales missed estimates.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 47 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,859 as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell four points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,057. The Nasdaq composite lost four points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,731.

Bond prices held steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was flat at 2.01 percent.