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International markets roundup

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A roundup of trading on major world markets:

NEW YORK – US stocks have finished mostly higher following mixed economic data, but a disappointing earnings report from Disney has weighed on the Dow.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Wednesday shed 10.22 points (0.06 per cent) at 17,540.47.

The broad-based S&P 500 gained 6.52 (0.31 per cent) at 2,099.84, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index rose 34.40 (0.67 per cent) to 5,139.94.

The Institute for Supply Management said the service sector expanded 4.3 per cent in July to a record high. But payroll firm ADP estimated the US private sector added 185,000 jobs in July, much below the analyst estimate for 220,000 additional jobs.

Disney was by the far the biggest loser in the blue-chip index, falling 9.2 per cent after trimming its forecast for its cable business and saying its Shanghai Disney theme park would not be profitable until after 2016.

LONDON – Europe’s main stock markets closed higher with all eyes on US economic data and prospects of an interest rate hike in the world’s biggest economy.

London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index ended the day 0.98 per cent higher at 6,7432.94 points compared with Tuesday’s close.

Eurozone indices performed better, with Frankfurt’s DAX 30 finishing 1.57 per cent ahead at 11,636,30 points, while the CAC 40 in Paris closed up 1.65 per cent at 5,196.73

The euro fell to $1.0867 from $1.0882 late in New York on Tuesday.

HONG KONG – Asian markets closed mixed as traders assessed the prospects of an early US interest rate rise and China’s moves to stem a recent market rout.

Tokyo put on 0.46 per cent, or 93.70 points, to close at 20,614.06, while Seoul ended flat, gaining 1.77 points to 2,029.76.

Sydney lost 0.42 per cent, or 23.9 points, to close at 5,674.0, despite big gains by miners on the back of an iron ore price rise.

Hong Kong was up 0.44 per cent or 108.04 points to 24,514.16 by close of trading, while Shanghai closed down 1.65 per cent, or 61.97 points, at 3,694.57.

WELLINGTON – The S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 4.76 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 5938.51.