Wall Street closes flat as market awaits job data

NEW YORK (AA) - Wall Street closed flat Friday as the decline in oil prices was balanced with gains in energy firms' stocks.

The Dow added only two points to finish the day at 20,858 and the S&P gained less than two points to 2,364.

The Nasdaq increased a little over one point to close flat at 5,838.

Oil prices decreased more than one percent Thursday as American dollar continues to extend its gain against other currencies.

At the final bell, American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was trading at $49.69 a barrel with a 1.3 percent decline, and international benchmark Brent crude was at $52.57 per barrel -- a 1.1 percent decline.

Among energy companies, Marathon Oil Corp. saw its stock price jump 8 percent, while NRG Energy Inc. shares increased 4 percent.

The market and investors await the non-farm payrolls for February that will be announced early Friday.

The jobs data is important as it shows the strength of the American economy to the Federal Reserve.

The central bank's next meeting for a rate hike decision is on March 12. Chair Janet Yellen dropped a strong hint last Friday for a March increase.