Indexes step into confusion zone after NFP data

Investors’ prevalent sentiment tends to be overwhelmed by hesitation and confusion which have become an inseparable part of the scene because the implications of the NFP jobs data announced Friday.

The stock market was wavering on Friday after the September jobs report missed estimates, though the data were better than the headline result would suggest.

Stocks were mixed midday Friday as the Nasdaq fell further but the Dow Jones Industrial Average reversed higher as traders digested jobs data.

By afternoon, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 57 points, or 0.2%, while the S&P 500 was dropping 0.3% and the Nasdaq Composite was declining 0.5%.

All three indexes wavered between mild gains and losses over the course of the day. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield initially dipped, then rose to 1.61%.