U.S. stocks fell at the open on Wednesday after data showed employers chopped more than half a million jobs in May, signaling conditions remained tough, and investors booked profits.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 49.14 points, or 0.56 percent, to 8,691.73. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> lost 7.73 points, or 0.82 percent, to 937.01. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gave up 12.22 points, or 0.67 percent, at 1,824.58.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)