Wall Street slides one percent after jobs report

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell more than 1 percent on Friday after a disappointing jobs report underlined concerns the economic recovery may be slowing.

Employers decreased hiring for the third straight month, adding 115,000 workers in April, well below forecasts of 170,000. The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent from 8.2 percent.

"The market has been overextended, and with payrolls so much weaker than expected, it's U.S. stocks fell more than 1 percent on Friday after a disappointing jobs report that brought into question the strength of the economic recovery. no surprise that we're getting a pullback," said Elliott Roman, managing director at trading firm Direct Access Partners in New York.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> slid 154.51 points, or 1.17 percent, at 13,052.08. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 20.36 points, or 1.46 percent, at 1,371.21. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> tumbled 57.63 points, or 1.91 percent, at 2,966.67.

The S&P 500 suffered its first monthly decline of the year in April, and the benchmark index has struggled to convincingly pierce the key resistance level of 1,400.

The benchmark index fell below its 50-day moving average for the first time since April 25.

Energy shares were the worst performers, with the S&P energy index <.GSPE> falling 2.2 percent on fears a worsening global economy would sap demand. U.S. crude oil fell below $100 a barrel for the first time since February.

Chevron Corp dropped 2.1 percent to $103.77 while Exxon Mobil Corp was off 1.2 percent to $84.66.

Utilities <.GSPU>, considered a defensive play, was the only S&P 500 sector in positive territory, up 0.4 percent.

First Solar Inc fell 6 percent to $17.01 and was the biggest decliner on the Nasdaq 100 <.NDX>. The U.S. solar panel maker posted an unexpected quarterly loss on Thursday, prompting analysts to lower their price targets.

Investors held back from big bets ahead of Sunday elections in Europe that could bring new leadership in France and Greece in a backlash against severe austerity measures.

On Friday, surveys showed the euro zone economy worsened markedly in April and suggested a recession may be deeper than previously thought.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index <.FTEU3> closed down 1.7 percent. <.EU>

Among individual stocks, LinkedIn Corp jumped 7.3 percent to $117.50 after the social networking website raised its outlook and smashed revenue and profit expectations.

Estée Lauder Cos Inc dropped 5.1 percent to $60.90 after the company gave a profit forecast that disappointed Wall Street.

Of the 415 companies in the S&P 500 index reporting results, 67.5 percent have exceeded estimates, according to Thomson Reuters data through Friday morning.

Dole Food Co Inc said it may spin off one or more units, sending shares up 5.3 percent to $9.18.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

WhatsAppFacebookTwitterLinkedinBeloudBluesky