NEW YORK, Aug 5 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday, interrupting a four-day rally, after weak data on private payrolls and the services sector dented recent optimism the recession was retreating. But the market finished off its lows as investors ventured into riskier financial shares.
Based on the latest available figures, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 39.22 points, or 0.42 percent, to end unofficially at 9,280.97. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index slipped 2.93 points, or 0.29 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,002.72. The Nasdaq Composite Index slid 18.26 points, or 0.91 percent, to close unofficially at 1,993.05. (Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Jan Paschal)