New York, March 3 - Wall Street stocks gained slightly Wednesday on signs of improvement in the US job market, beating back losses over the past few days on unrest in the Middle East.

A private report on employment from ADP beat economists' forecasts, while a regional survey from the Federal Reserve also showed the labour market gaining ground in most sections of the US.

The reports come as investors are looking eagerly towards the Labour Department's figures for February due to be released Friday. The jobless rate in January stood at 9 percent.

The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average added 8.78 points, or 0.07 percent, to 12,066.8. The broader Standard and Poor's 500 Index climbed 2.11 points, or 0.16 percent, to 1,308.44. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index was up 10.66 points, or 0.39 percent, to 2,748.07.

The US currency fell to 72.13 euro cents from 72.6 euro cents Tuesday. The dollar edged lower against the Japanese currency to 81.89 yen from 81.92 yen. (DPA)