Stocks stumble after unemployment rises to 9.8 pct

NEW YORK (AP) — An unexpected rise in the U.S. unemployment rate pushed most stocks down Friday as investors moved money into safer assets.

The unemployment rate climbed to a seven-month high in November as employers added just 39,000 jobs. Economists had expected a gain of 145,000.

The unemployment rate climbed to 9.8 percent from 9.6 percent.

Investors had hoped that a strong jobs report would help extend a two-day stock rally. Expectations of job growth rose Wednesday after a report showed that hiring at small businesses increased to the highest levels in three years. That along with signs of stronger retail spending pushed the Dow Jones industrial average up 356 …