Global stocks up modestly after strong jobs data

Global shares rose modestly today after a surprisingly strong US jobs report for November was tempered by a drop in US consumer sentiment amid a lack of progress in talks to avert the "fiscal cliff."

US stocks struggled to advance, with another sell-off in Apple depressing technology shares, overshadowing a sharply better-than-expected jobs report.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 81.09 points, or 0.62 percent, to end at 13,155.13. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 4.13 points, or 0.29 percent, to finish at 1,418.07. But the Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 11.23 points, or 0.38 percent, to close at 2,978.04.

European shares edged higher today, lifted by major healthcare stocks and telecoms group Nokia, although some traders said they would look to sell equities due to an uncertain economic backdrop.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index ended up 0.1 percent to 1,132.69 points - an 18-month closing high and its best finish since ending at 1,142.18 points on May 31, 2011.