Wall Street ends flat, European stocks drop

US stocks closed flat in another thinly traded session as Greece remained in a standstill over accepting tough reforms in exchange for a bailout critical to avoiding a chaotic default.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 5.75 points, or 0.04 percent, at 12,883.95. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 2.91 points, or 0.22 percent, at 1,349.96. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 11.78 points, or 0.41 percent, at 2,915.86.

European shares fell from six-month highs after sources said European Central Bank policymakers were still split on a Greek debt deal, souring optimism that talks were drawing to a conclusion.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed down 0.2 percent at 1,070.84 points, having been up as much as 1,079.97.

Japan's Nikkei average climbed above the 9,000 mark for the first time in three months, boosted by a stronger-than-expected profit outlook from Toyota Motor Corp and short-covering in index options.

The Nikkei closed 1.1 percent higher at 9,015.59, not too far from its 200-day moving average near 9,063, and the broader Topix gained 1.2 percent to 782.34, shrugging off worries about Greece whose politicians delayed a decision yet again on unpopular terms of a crucial 130 billion euro bailout.