Global stocks mixed after Bernanke economy view

Wall Street rose in choppy trade on Tuesday after a gloomy economic outlook by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke kept alive views that the US central bank may take further steps to stimulate growth.

The Dow Jones industrial average finished up 78.33 points, or 0.62 percent, at 12,805.54. The S&P 500 Index ended up 10.03 points, or 0.74 percent, at 1,363.67. The Nasdaq Composite Index closed up 13.10 points, or 0.45 percent, at 2,910.04.

European shares fell in thin trading after the US central bank gave no signs it was any nearer to launching fresh monetary stimulus measures to support the fragile economic recovery that threatens company earnings and consumer spending.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares finished 0.2 percent lower at 1,041.53 points. It has climbed about 10 percent since early June, when it hit a six-month low on poor data and jitters over the euro zone debt crisis. Trading volumes were 70 percent of its 90-day daily average.

Japan's Nikkei share average rose after the finance ministry, reacting to the yen hitting a one-month high against the dollar, warned that it would intervene if necessary to curb excessive movements in the currency market.

The Nikkei rose 0.4 percent to 8,755.00, reversing an early loss, after Finance Minister Jun Azumi's warning on intervention in the currency market. His remarks came as the yen held onto Monday's one-month high against the dollar and stayed close to an 11-1/2 year high versus the euro.