Stocks recovered from an early decline to end narrowly mixed Wednesday, but worries over the weak ADP employment report kept investors on edge ahead of Friday's key jobs data.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 10.75 points, or 0.08 percent, to close at 13,268.57, weighed down by BofA and Alcoa , giving back gains from the previous session when the index closed at its highest level in more than four years .

The S&P 500 erased 3.51 points, or 0.25 percent, to finish at 1,402.31, but still held above the 1,400 milestone. The Nasdaq rose 9.41 points, or 0.31 percent, to end at 3,059.85.

The CBOE Volatility Index, widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, gained near 17.

Among the key S&P sectors, energy led the laggards, while consumer discretionary closed higher.

Stocks slumped at the open following news that employers in the private sector added just 119,000 jobs in April , according to the ADP report, well below expectations for 170,000.

The report is closely watched ahead of the key monthly government jobs report, due at the end of the week. Economists surveyed by Reuters estimate employers added 170,000 jobs last month, following a tepid 120,000 gain in the month prior.

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