YAHOO[BRIEFING.COM]: Though the highly anticipated December jobs report didn't contain any glum surprises, stocks still spent the session trading with marked losses amid continued investor concern.

December nonfarm payrolls declined 524,000, in-line with the 525,000 job losses that were widely expected.

While the numbers weren't as bad as feared, investors remain mindful that overall economic conditions are dour. Specifically, December unemployment is at a multiyear high of 7.2%, while total job losses for 2008 were the most since 1974, and are expected to increase.

Boeing (BA 44.45, -0.34) announced it would cut jobs in its commercial airplane business. The Wall Street Journal reported that oil drillers Schlumberger (SLB 43.01, -2.82) and Halliburton (HAL 19.01, -2.15) were also cutting staff.

The job cuts come amid ongoing economic headwinds. Such headwinds have many companies issuing cautious earnings outlooks. Coach (COH 18.11, -2.79) and CVS Caremark (CVS 25.69, -3.65) lowered their earnings estimates below analysts' forecasts, while Chevron (CVX 72.82, -1.42) expects fourth quarter earnings to be significantly lower than the third quarter results. Chevron earned $3.85 per share in the third quarter. The consensus fourth quarter estimate calls for $1.78 per share.

Best Buy (BBY 28.08, -1.57) narrowed its full-year outlook after its December same-store sales fell 6.5%. Best Buy expects adjusted earnings to range from $2.50 and $2.70 per share. The current consensus stands at $2.61.

The tepid outlooks have made market participants cautious about enter the fold ahead of earnings season, which officially begins Monday when Dow component Alcoa (AA 10.81, -0.55) reports its latest results.

With expectations for earnings season low, investors are making note of the companies that trade with strength on better-than-expected results. Private education provider Apollo Group (APOL 85.27, +8.05) brought in $1.12 per share during its latest quarter. That topped the consensus estimate of $0.98 per share.

APOL's advance lent support to other education providers, which often benefit from higher enrollment amid higher unemployment.

Overall, though, the broader market finished near its session low, and down 4.5% for the week. All 10 economic sectors closed lower.DJ30 -143.28 NASDAQ -45.42 NQ100 -2.4% R2K -4.1% SP400 -2.7% SP500 -19.38 NASDAQ Dec/Adv/Vol 2046/694/1.95 bln NYSE Dec/Adv/Vol 2188/926/1.16 bln