Disappointingly low job creation numbers weighed the markets down to a lower close with the Dow falling 96 points to 9774. Nasdaq dropped 25 points to 2109.
On the upside
Pier 1 Imports (Nasdaq: PIR) impressed with an unexpected profit for the first quarter, saying that the company has not only weathered the recession but has grown stronger.
Second quarter earnings for OMNOVA Solutions (NYSE: OMN) surged as revenue climbed.
Ford (NYSE: F) announced plans to repay $4 billion in debt.
On the downside
SuperGen's (Nasdaq: SUPG) partner Eisai reported no significant superiority with patients using its myeloid leukemia treatment Dacogen in a Phase III clinical trial.
FUQI International (Nasdaq: FUQI) will be unable to file restated quarterly earnings for 2009 or its 2009 annual report in June 2010.
Fitch Ratings downgraded some of First Industrial Realty Trust's (NYSE: FR) ratings.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced advancers by a margin of nearly 5 to 3 on the NYSE and by more than 5 to 3 on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks fell 6 points to 609.
