Global Stocks: U.S. indices posted mixed results

U.S. stock indices little changed on Thursday amid mixed domestic data and concerns over global economic growth.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 12.69 points, or 0.8%, to 16,272.01. The S&P 500 gained 3.79, or 0.2%, to 1,923.82. The Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 6.92, or 0.2%, to 4,627.08.

A report from the Institute of Supply Management showed that activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector slowed in September. The Manufacturing PMI came in at 50.2 in September compared to 51.1 in August. The latest reading is the minimum since July 2013. The index was expected to slide to 50.6.

U.S. Department of Labor reported that the number of initial jobless claims rose moderately last week staying near a level, which suggests that conditions in the labor market are improving. In the week ended September 26 the number of initial jobless claims rose by 10,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis to 277,000.

This morning in Asia Hong Kong Hang Seng rose 0.48%, or 529.67, to 21,375.97. The Nikkei rose 2.29%, or 397.82, to 17,785.97. Markets in China are on holiday.

Japanese stocks declined at the beginning of the session amid disappointing data on U.S. manufacturing, but rebounded later.

Japan's household spending rose 2.9% y/y in August from a year earlier compared to expectations for a 0.4% rise. Meanwhile the unemployment rate climbed to 3.4% in August from 3.3% in July, where it was expected to stay.