Global Stocks: U.S. indices declined slightly amid payrolls data

U.S. stocks declined slightly on Thursday despite data, which showed that the U.S. economy generated less jobs in June than analysts had expected, and reassured investors that the Federal Reserve would be patient in raising interest rates. Investors were also cautious ahead of Sunday referendum in Greece.

According to the Labor Department, employers added 223,000 jobs in June vs 230,000 expected, while the unemployment rate fell to 5.3% from 5.5%. Wages remained flat. Although expectations were missed, the report was still strong and it marked the 14th out of the last 16 months in which the economy added more than 200,000 jobs.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 27.80, or 0.2%, to 17730.11. The S&P 500 index lost 0.64 point, less than 0.1%, to 2076.78. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 3.91, or 0.1%, to 5009.21.

U.S. stock markets will be closed on Friday in observance of Independence Day.

This morning in Asia Shanghai Composite Index declined by 2.93%, or 114.66 points, to 3,798.11. Hong Kong Hang Seng gained 0.04%, or 10.91 points, to 26,293.23. Meanwhile the Nikkei added 0.08%, or 15.61 points, to 20,538.11.

Asian stocks outside China posted modest gains as investors were cautious before Greece's Sunday referendum. Chinese stocks continued falling. The China Securities Regulatory Commission said it had opened an investigation into suspected market manipulation.