Global stocks gain after US jobs data

Global stocks advanced for the first time in seven sessions today on relatively encouraging US jobs data and improved investor sentiment regarding Europe's festering debt crisis.

US and European stocks climbed after data showed US claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, an upbeat sign after April's weak employment growth was seen as a harbinger of a deteriorating US labor market.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 19.98 points, or 0.16 percent, at 12,855.04. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 3.41 points, or 0.25 percent, to 1,357.99. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 1.07 points, or 0.04 percent, to 2,933.64

The FTSE Eurofirst index of top European shares closed 0.4 percent higher at a provisional close of 1,018.90.MSCI's all-country world equity index gained 0.3 percent to 315.88, its first gain after six straight days of losses.

Japan's Nikkei average slid 0.4 percent on Thursday after lurching in and out of positive territory as bargain hunting was offset by poor Chinese trade figures and concerns that euro zone instability could further derail global growth. The Nikkei closed at 9,009.65, while the broader Topix headed 0.1 percent down to 765.42.