Stocks were flat at the open on Friday, following Wall Street's best day in three months, after February's jobs report came in better than forecast but fell short of the most optimistic expectations.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dipped 2.34 points, or 0.02 percent, to 12,255.86. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> shed 1.10 points, or 0.08 percent, to 1,329.87. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> slipped 2.89 points, or 0.10 percent, to 2,795.85.