Investing.com - U.S. stocks finished Thursday mixed as investors applauded upbeat U.S. data and earnings though concerns economies elsewhere may be cooling allowed for choppy trading.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow 30 fell 0.15%, the S&P 500 index rose 0.01%, while the NASDAQ Composite index rose 0.03%.
The Volatility S&P 500 index, which measures the outlook for market volatility, was down 2.44% at 25.61.
Upbeat U.S. data released earlier Thursday drew applause on Wall Street.
The U.S. Department of Labor reported earlier that the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending Oct. 11 fell by 23,000 to 264,000 from the previous week’s total of 287,000.
Analysts had expected jobless claims to rise by 3,000 to 290,000 last week.
Elsewhere on Thursday, data revealed that U.S. industrial production climbed 1.0% last month, beating expectations for a 0.4% rise. The August figure was revised to a 0.2% slip from a previously estimated 0.1% downtick.
In addition, the Federal Reserve of Philadelphia said its manufacturing index fell to 20.7 this month from a reading of 22.5 in September. Analysts had expected the index to decline to 20.0 in October.
Stocks also saw support after U.S. President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that the country's Center for Disease Control and Prevention would send rapid response teams to any new suspected Ebola cases in the U.S.
Mr. Obama's comments came after the infection of a second Texas healthcare worker.
Upbeat earnings from Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) and other financials buoyed stocks as well, though concerns a cooling global economy may drag on U.S. recovery allowed for choppy trading, especially after China's consumer price index fell to near five-year lows.
Official data released on Wednesday showed that Chinese inflation for September slowed to 1.6% on-year from 2.0% in August, below expectations for a reading of 1.7%.
The weaker-than-expected data underlined concerns about China's economy and sparked speculation policymakers in Beijing will have to introduce fresh stimulus to meet the government's 7.5% growth target.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), up 3.95%, Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE), up 2.18%, and Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), up 1.60%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS), down 2.78% on profit taking, Merck & Company Inc (NYSE:MRK), down 2.46%, and Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE), down 1.86%.
European indices, meanwhile, ended the day largely lower.
After the close of European trade, the DJ Euro Stoxx 50 fell 0.38%, France's CAC 40 fell 0.54%, while Germany's DAX rose 0.13%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 fell 0.25%.
On Friday, the U.S. is to round up the week with reports on building permits and housing starts, as well as a preliminary report on consumer sentiment.