Stocks open mixed

Stock markets got off to a shaky start this morning following the release of another batch of dismal unemployment figures.

The markets have been swinging between positive and negative territory in the first few minutes of trading. The Dow was down .02 percent to 7,977, while the S&P 500 was up .13 percent to 835. The tech heavy Nasdaq also gained .1 percent to 1,604, with Research in Motion reporting last night that its fourth-quarter earnings jumped 26 percent, more than expected.

Overnight trading in Europe and Asia was flat.

The March unemployment figure of 8.5 percent is of little surprise. Some analysts expect joblessness to be in double digits by the end of the year -- but that won't necessarily stop a market rebound.

-- Ylan Mui