Dow, S&P 500 end higher; European shares lifted by US data, German vote
US stocks mostly rose in a volatile session on Thursday as stronger-than-expected economic data and German approval of a beefed-up euro-zone crisis fund relieved two of the worst fears hanging over the market.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 143.08 points, or 1.30 percent, to 11,153.98. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 9.34 points, or 0.81 percent, to 1,160.40. But the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 10.82 points, or 0.43 percent, to 2,480.76.
European shares rose after better-than-expected US economic data eased some market worries about slowing growth, prompting a reverse of early falls for a number of cyclical sectors and helping the index pare heavy third-quarter losses.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares was up 0.6 percent at 933.26 points.
The Nikkei average reversed losses to retake the 8,700 level for the first time in over a week, on a rush of buying in the final half-hour of trade as some commodities and US stock futures recovered on hopes of progress on Europe's debt debacle.
The Nikkei finished at 8,701.23, after being down 1% at the end of the morning session. The index last traded above 8,700 on Sept. 21, and has moved close to its 25-day moving average of 8,727.
The benchmark has closed higher for three sessions, moving away from a two-and-half year closing low on Monday. The broader Topix index rose 1.1 percent to 762.30.
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