Stocks opened lower on Thursday on renewed concerns about the euro zone's financial health, but declines were curbed by encouraging employment data.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 26.18 points, or 0.21 percent, at 12,392.24. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX><.INX> lost 3.23 points, or 0.25 percent, at 1,274.07. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> shed 6.12 points, or 0.23 percent, at 2,642.24.

(Reporting By Chuck Mikolajczak; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)