Global stocks mostly slip, tech keeps S&P near 4-yr highs

US stocks mostly fell on Wednesday, weighed by the energy services sector, but gains in technology shares buoyed the Nasdaq and helped keep the S&P 500 near four-year highs.

The benchmark S&P 500 index, up 11.6 percent so far this quarter, found buyers at the 1,400 level, which has been held for five straight days. Support at that level suggests more gains in coming weeks.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 45.57 points, or 0.35 percent, to 13,124.62 at the close. The S&P 500 Index dipped 2.63 points, or 0.19 percent, to 1,402.89. The Nasdaq Composite edged up 1.17 points, or 0.04 percent, to 3,075.32.

European shares fell, holding near a support level after briefly testing it, led by financials after weak US home sales data raised fears about the economy in the United States, with chartists suggesting stocks could struggle from here.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares ended down 0.2 percent at 1,091.74 points, holding just on a support level, which represented its February highs at around 1,091 after briefly dipping to as low as 1,087.07.

The Nikkei closed 0.6 percent lower at 10,086.49, off an 8-1/2-month high of 10,172.64 marked on Monday. Yesterday was a holiday in Japan.

The broader Topix index fell 1.1 percent to 858.78. More than 2.1 billion shares changed hands on the main board, up from 1.95 billion shares the previous session.