US stocks slip at open: Nasdaq down 0.3%, S&P dips 0.2%

Market Overview - US stocks experienced a slight decline, with the S&P 500 falling by 0.2%, the Nasdaq Composite down by 0.3%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipping by 18 points, primarily due to weakness in major technology stocks, especially Microsoft [1][1][1] Company-Specific Developments - Microsoft shares dropped approximately 2% after reports indicated the company was reducing software sales quotas related to artificial intelligence, which negatively impacted other AI-linked companies such as Nvidia, Broadcom, and Palantir Technologies [1][1][1] - In contrast, Marvell Technology saw its shares surge over 6% following positive market reactions to its data center growth projections [1][1][1] - American Eagle Outfitters experienced a significant increase of more than 15% after raising its full-year guidance and reporting a strong start to the holiday shopping season [1][1][1] Economic Indicators - The ADP reported a surprising decline in private sector employment, with a loss of 32,000 jobs in November, contrary to economists' expectations of a gain of 40,000, which may influence the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates [1][1][1] - Job growth was primarily driven by large companies, which added 90,000 jobs, while small businesses cut a net 120,000 positions, indicating a challenging environment for smaller firms [1][1][1] - Wage growth showed signs of softening, with a year-over-year pay increase of 4.4%, down from 4.5% in October, reflecting cautious consumer behavior and an uncertain macroeconomic landscape [1][1][1]