U.S. stocks closed lower on Thursday, but off the session’s lows, as traders monitored developments in the Mideast conflict and awaited a monthly jobs report in the U.S.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 184.93 points, or 0.4%, ending at 42,011.59, its biggest daily drop in a roughly a week, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

The S&P 500 fell 9.60 points, or 0.2%, finishing at 5,699.94.

The Nasdaq Composite dropped 6.65 points, or less than 0.1%, closing nearly unchanged at 17,918.48.

The powerful rally driving stocks to fresh highs has taken a breather in the first week of October as the Mideast conflict intensified, with oil prices rising and other headwinds keeping investors on edge. Friday’s jobs report for September will be a key data point in helping to inform the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates.