U.S. Stocks Finish Choppy Session With Small Gains

U.S. stocks ended Thursday's choppy session with modest gains. Stocks dipped into negative territory at midday, but recovered to close slightly higher, as investors displayed their skittishness ahead of Friday's closely watched jobs report. Investors reflected on the announcement that the European Central Bank will kick off a trillion-dollar plan to purchase government bonds and other debt on Monday, as well as economic reports, including weekly jobless claims. The S&P 500 closed 2.53 points, or 0.1%, higher at 2,101.06. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 38.82 points, or 0.2%, to 18,135.72. The Nasdaq Composite ended the day up 15.67 points, or 0.3%, at 4,982.81.