NEW YORK: US stocks edged up on Wednesday and the yen rose to a seven-week high against the dollar as investors wrestled with the latest data to assess the strength of the economic recovery.

A US private-sector jobs showed moderating losses in the labor market in August, but the losses were greater than forecast and highlighted uncertainty over a brewing economic recovery. The report boosted the safe-haven appeal of the Japanese currency.

Gold extended gains past $970 an ounce to its highest in almost three months as concern over the recent slide in global equity markets boosted the metal’s cachet as a refuge from financial uncertainty.

The wobbly stock market and disappointing jobs report fed a safe-haven bid for US government debt. Prices of Treasuries edged higher, pushing benchmark yields to seven-week lows.

Euro zone government bond prices rose as European equities fell for the third straight session and investors awaited a European Central Bank policy decision amid a raft of supply from France and Spain.

Improvement in the jobs market has been slow and consumer confidence has stumbled, clouding hopes for rising consumer demand to fuel economic growth.

Shortly after 1 p.m., the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.07 points, or 0.00 percent, at 9,310.67. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was down 0.84 points, or 0.08 percent, at 997.20. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 0.61 points, or 0.03 percent, at 1,969.50.

European shares closed lower for a third straight day on Wednesday. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares fell 0.4 percent to close at 950.41 points.

Oil prices initially fell after data from the US Energy Information Administration showed crude stocks fell by 400,000 barrels per day last week, less than the 600,000 barrel drop expected by analysts.

US crude for October delivery fell 20 cents at $67.85 a barrel.

London Brent crude fell 10 cents to $67.63 a barrel.

The dollar fell 0.5 percent to 92.41 yen, after hitting a low of 92.23 yen, according to Reuters data, its lowest since mid-July.

The euro was last down 0.3 percent at 131.62 yen, while sterling recovered to last trade up 0.2 percent at 149.93 yen.