Wall Street eased on Thursday after the Dow posted its best run in nearly three years, but hopes Friday's key jobs report would underscore signs of strength in US economy kept investors engaged. The financial sector, the strongest gainer in Wednesday's 4 percent rally, gave back some of its gains and dragged on the market. The S&P's financial index fell 1.5 percent. Bank of America fell 1.6 percent to $5.35.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 48.59 points, or 0.40 percent, to 11,997.09. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 4.51 points, or 0.36 percent, to 1,242.45. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 1.87 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,622.21.