US stock indexes began the session with losses as investor concerns about the potential strength and timing of an economic recovery weighed on stocks and pressured crude oil prices, but later ascended.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.53 percent, or 44.13 points, to 8,324.87, after an unstable session. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index 0.26 percent, or 2.3 points, to 898.72. The Nasdaq Composite Index, however, lost 0.51 percent, or 9.12 points, to 1,787.4.

European shares fell for the third straight session on renewed worries about the sustainability of economic recovery foreseen in recent sentiment surveys on both sides of the Atlantic and in China.

Oil & gas stocks, banks and basic resources took the most points off the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares, which fell 1.1 percent to 833.03 points - its lowest close since May 13.

Japan's Nikkei average fell 1.4 percent as hopes of an economic recovery were dented in the wake of last week's downbeat US employment data, dampening investor sentiment.