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US stocks end lower after mixed jobs report

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on June 29, 2015 in New York City

Wall Street stocks closed a holiday-shortened week slightly lower Thursday following a mixed US jobs report and as investors awaited Greece's weekend referendum over its economic fate.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 27.80 points (0.16 percent) to 17,730.11.

The broad-based S&P 500 inched down 0.64 (0.03 percent) to 2,076.78, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index shed 3.91 (0.08 percent) at 5,009.21.

The US Labor Department reported that the US economy added a solid 223,000 jobs in June. However, the report also said hourly earnings were flat compared with May and cut the estimates for job growth in April and May.

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Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank, said the report was "reasonably strong," but that investors are nervous over the rising likelihood that the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in 2015.

Sunday's referendum in Greece will gauge support for reforms demanded by official creditors. European Union leaders warned the eurozone would be plunged into "unknown" territory unless a 'Yes' vote prevailed.

Health insurer Health Net jumped 10.0 percent on news it struck a deal to be acquired by another insurer, Centene, for $6.8 billion. Centene fell 8.0 percent.

Xoom, which provides online international money transfer services, bolted 21.0 percent higher on news it will be acquired by PayPal for about $890 million. PayPal is in the process of being separated from eBay. EBay shares rose 2.4 percent.

Dow member DuPont fell 2.3 percent following an RBC Capital Market Report that recommended a "cautious" stance on the stock given its lofty valuation and the significant foreign exchange headwinds facing many DuPont businesses.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals jumped 4.0 percent after announcing that the US Food and Drug Administration approved its Orkambi drug to treat cystic fibrosis.

Tesla Motors rose 4.0 percent after announcing that it delivered 11,507 Model S electric cars in the second quarter, a 52 percent increase from a year ago and the highest ever in a quarter.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury dropped to 2.38 percent from 2.42 percent Wednesday, while the 30-year fell to 3.19 percent from 3.21 percent. Bond prices and yields move inversely.