Global shares end mixed after China, Europe data

The Dow industrials ended slightly higher on Thursday while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq cut most of the day's losses in a sign that investor sentiment remains generally positive despite several weak manufacturing surveys from around the world.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 18.97 points, or 0.14 percent, to 13,596.93 at the close. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dipped 0.79 of a point, or 0.05 percent, to 1,460.26. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 6.66 points, or 0.21 percent, to close at 3,175.96.

European stocks slipped, hurt by grim macro data from Europe, China and the United States, although shares bounced off the day's lows as a number of investors took advantage of the pull-back to lift their exposure to equities.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 0.1 percent lower at 1,114.97 points, after falling by as much as 0.7 percent during the session.

The Nikkei average shed 1.6 percent today, giving up the previous session's sharp gain, as lackluster Chinese manufacturing data reinforced concerns over flagging demand in Japan's largest trading partner.

The Nikkei ended 145.23 points lower at 9,086.98, breaking support at its five-day moving average at 9,119.50, in solid volume, while the Nikkei China 50, made up of companies with significant exposure to China, lost 2 percent.