Stocks fell slightly at the open on Wednesday after a report showed the private sector added fewer jobs this month than expected.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 24.33 points, or 0.25 percent, to 9,845.97. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 2.14 points, or 0.21 percent, to 1,039.10. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> shed 3.83 points, or 0.18 percent, to 2,131.35.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

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