Bernanke disappointment pushes Wall Street lower
US stocks closed sharply lower on Thursday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave no indications of new stimulus measures to boost the flagging economy in a keenly awaited speech.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 119.05 points, or 1.04 percent, to 11,295.81. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 12.72 points, or 1.06 percent, to 1,185.90. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 19.80 points, or 0.78 percent, to 2,529.14.
European shares ended higher, boosted by short covering ahead of a speech from US President Barack Obama about his plan for jobs growth to help the struggling US economy.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 0.9 percent higher at 939.63 after choppy trade that saw it move in a 926.38-942.34 range.
The Nikkei stock average pulled further away from a six-month low hit this week,helped by hopes of an improvement in Europe's debt situation but the rise was tempered by continuing uncertainty about the US economic outlook.The benchmark Nikkei climbed 0.3 percent in thin trade to 8,793.12, its second day of gains.
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