US stocks dip as December hiring report fails to inspire

The federal government's December jobs report didn't excite investors, but it was solid enough to suggest interest rates will keep rising.

Technology companies are rising and the Nasdaq composite continues to set records.

The Nasdaq composite, which closed at an all-time high Thursday, rose 10 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,497.

The Dow has lagged the other major indexes this week, held back by weakness in the insurance company Travelers, industrial coating and Post-it note maker 3M, and McDonald's.

Amgen climbed and Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals fell after a court moved to block sales of Sanofi and Regeneron's cholesterol drug Praluent.

The company said sales at older Gap and Old Navy stores both improved in December and said its annual profit should be a bit higher than it expected.

Medical device maker ICU Medical sank as the company said a business it is buying continues to weaken.

ICU will pay less money, but it said the division's sales are still falling, so it expects less profit from the deal.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 0.3 percent while the Kospi in South Korea added 0.4 percent.