Global stocks end flat
Investors largely took a wait-and-see approach on Thursday as US stocks ended little changed ahead of Friday's key employment report, but tech shares rose after strong earnings from chipmaker Qualcomm.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 11.05 points, or 0.09 percent, to 12,705.41. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 1.45 points, or 0.11 percent, to 1,325.54. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 11.41 points, or 0.40 percent, to 2,859.68.
European shares hit a fresh six-month closing high, after US weekly jobless claims showed the market was improving, while Xstrata and Glencore led the risers on confirmed merger talks.
Gains, however, were capped as the FTSEurofirst 300 index failed to break a major resistance level as uncertainty grew about Greek debt swap talks needed to avoid a messy default, which could create havoc in the financial markets.
In Asia, the Tokyo Stock Exchange suffered a major glitch in cash-share trading for the first time in six years that prevented morning trade in some 240 shares and instruments, including Sony Corp, and provoked anger among traders.
The Nikkei average ended 0.8 percent higher at 8,876.82 but trading volume did not appear to suffer too much. Volume hit its highest level since Jan. 20, with 2.25 billion shares changing hands on the main board.
COMMENTS >
