Wall Street ended an aimless session barely lower Thursday after investors shrugged off comments about productivity by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and awaited the government’s August employment report. The major indexes ended August with gains.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed modestly lower, down 1.76, or 0.02 percent, at 11,381.15. The Dow showed gains in each of the previous three sessions, and is now at a three-month high. For August over all, the Dow rose 1.8 percent, its best showing since April. Broader stock indicators also declined Thursday. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 0.45, or 0.03 percent, to 1,303.82, while the Nasdaq composite index dropped 1.98, or 0.09 percent, to 2,183.75. S & P; 500 had its strongest month since January, rising 2.1 percent, while the Nasdaq added 4.4 percent for its best month since November.
