LIVE MARKETS-US stocks end mixed after choppy session following data burst

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US STOCKS END MIXED AFTER CHOPPY SESSION FOLLOWING DATA BURST

U.S. stocks ended mixed after a choppy session that saw a host of economic data, including readings on the labor market and consumer health, although late gains pushed each of the major indexes well off their lows of the day.

The delayed reading from the Labor Department showed U.S. job growth rebounded more than expected in November after government-related spending cuts triggered the biggest drop in nonfarm payrolls in nearly five years in October, while a separate report from the Commerce Department said retail sales were unchanged in October.

More up-to-date data came in the form of S&P Global's "flash" - or preliminary - composite purchasing manager index, which showed business activity slowed in December to its weakest pace since June, but still remained in expansion territory.

The data did little to alter expectations for another rate cut in January from the Federal Reserve, which remained around 25%, while the Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump was set to interview Fed Governor Christopher Waller for Fed Chair on Wednesday.

Tech .SPLRCT, up 0.3%, led S&P 500 sectors on the plus side, while energy .SPNY was the worst-performing group, dropping about 3% as crude prices tumbled to settle near a five-year low.

Healthcare .SPXHC was also weak, weighed down by a 3.4% drop in Pfizer PFE.N after the drugmaker's profit outlook.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 1.63-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.26-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

Below is your closing market snapshot:

(Chuck Mikolajczak)

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EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

IT'S BEEN A SOLID YEAR FOR S&P 500 RECORD CLOSING HIGHS CLICK HERE

DATA DELIVERY: NOVEMBER JOBS, OCTOBER RETAIL SALES, DECEMBER PMI, SEPTEMBER INVENTORIES CLICK HERE

US STOCKS FALL AFTER DATA FLURRY CLICK HERE

US STOCK FUTURES SLIP, 10-YEAR YIELD FLAT, AFTER LATEST DATA ON JOBS, RETAIL SALES CLICK HERE

BEAUTY IN 2026 LOOKING ATTRACTIVE CLICK HERE

STOXX SHAKES OFF EARLY WEAKNESS, AS UKRAINE TALKS DRIVE PRICE ACTION CLICK HERE

BEFORE THE BELL: EUROPE TRACKS LOWER, LED BY DEFENCE CLICK HERE

MARKETS IN GRINCH-Y MOOD BEFORE DATA DELUGE CLICK HERE

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