A roundup of trading on major world markets:

NEW YORK – US stocks have fallen for a third straight day on the back of disappointing earnings from Caterpillar, American Express and others.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Thursday fell 119.09 points (0.67 per cent) to 17,731.95.

The broad-based S&P 500 dropped 12.00 (0.57 per cent) to 2,102.15, while tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index lost 25.36 (0.49 per cent) at 5,146.41.

Dow members American Express (-2.5 per cent), Caterpillar (-3.6 per cent) and 3M (-3.8 per cent) all fell sharply following earnings reports. But General Motors gained 4.0 per cent after reporting second-quarter earnings that quadrupled from a year ago.

LONDON – Europe’s main stock markets closed mixed in subdued deals, unable to rebound after two days of losses, as caution prevailed over Greece’s debt crisis.

In the eurozone, the CAC 40 in Paris closed up 0.08 per cent at 5,086.74 points, while Frankfurt’s DAX 30 slipped 0.07 per cent to 11,512.11 points.

London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index of top companies fell 0.18 per cent to 6,655.01 points despite gainers such as British publisher Pearson which announced it was selling its flagship business daily the Financial Times to Japanese digital media group Nikkei.

The euro firmed to $US1.0966 from $US1.0926 late in New York on Wednesday, as Greece took another step closer to securing a bailout following the Greek parliament’s approval of a second batch of reforms.

HONG KONG – Asian markets mostly rose, with Tokyo lifted by a stronger US dollar as investors positioned for a US rate hike, and Shanghai extended its rally.

Tokyo rose 0.44 per cent, or 90.28 points, to finish at 20,683.95, Shanghai jumped 2.43 per cent, or 97.87 points to 4,123.92 while Hong Kong added 0.46 per cent, or 116.23 points, to 25,398.85.

Seoul ended marginally higher, adding 0.34 points to 2,065.07 but Sydney lost 0.43 per cent, or 24.3 points, to close at 5,590.3.

WELLINGTON – The S&P/NZX50 Index fell 26.45 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 5901.3.