Major US stock indices are moderately higher after data showed that employment in December increased less than expected, but the rebound wages signaled steady growth in the labor market.

As it became known, job creation slowed in December and the unemployment rate rose slightly, but wage growth was the strongest since 2009, pointing to a tightening of the labor market for more than seven years after the beginning of the expansion. The number of people employed in non-agricultural sectors of the economy rose to a seasonally adjusted 156 000 in December from the previous month, the Labor Department said Friday. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.7% last month from 4.6% in November, reflecting more Americans entering the labor market. Economists had expected 178,000 new jobs, and the unemployment rate to 4.7%.

In addition, new orders for manufactured goods in the US fell by reducing the pressure in November in a volatile category of civilian aircraft, but the underlying trend suggests that production is gradually being strengthened. The US Commerce Department said today that production orders for goods decreased by 2.4%, after a revised increase of up to 2.8% in October. The November decline followed a growth for four consecutive months and was the biggest drop since December 2015. Economists predicted that factory orders decline by 2.2% in November after being shown previously reported increase of 2.7% in October.

DOW index components closed mostly in positive territory (23 of 30). Most remaining shares rose NIKE, Inc. (NKE, + 1.78%). Outsider were shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ, -2.56%).

Sector S & P index also ended the day mostly in positive territory. The leader turned out to be the technology sector (+ 0.3%). Most of the basic materials sector fell (-0.3%).