NEW YORK >> U.S. stocks ended slightly lower today as investors weighed economic worries against optimism over interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve after data showed U.S. job growth weakened sharply in August.

Bank shares were among those taking the biggest hit, with the S&P 500 bank index ending 2.4% lower.

However, Broadcom shares rose 9.4%, helping to offset market losses, a day after the chipmaker unveiled a $10 billion artificial intelligence chip order from a new customer and forecast fourth-quarter revenue above estimates.

The U.S. economy created 22,000 jobs last month instead of an estimated 75,000, confirming softening labor market conditions, according to the Labor Department report.

The three major U.S. stock indexes initially rose and broke records following the data,

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