Weak earnings hit shares, boost demand for US Treasuries

Global shares fell on Friday as lackluster corporate earnings reports undermined investor confidence while US Treasuries climbed with safe-haven support.

The Dow Jones industrial average edged up 3.53 points, or 0.03 percent, to 13,107.21 at the close. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dipped 1.03 points, or 0.07 percent, to finish at 1,411.94. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 1.83 points, or 0.06 percent, to end at 2,987.95.

European equity markets eased today, on track for their worst week in a month on the back of a raft of gloomy corporate outlooks and a darkening technicals picture.

The FTSEurofirst 300 closed up 0.1 percent at 1,097.35, trimming its losses for the week to 1.3 percent, after a choppy session that had initially been weighed by fresh concerns over the outlook for regional corporates

The Nikkei fell 1.4 percent to 8,933.06 after Asian shares slumped on a report in the China Securities Journal that Chinese funds had posted a 75 billion yuan ($12.02 billion) loss in the three months to September.