Global Stocks: U.S. stock indices edged up

U.S. stock indices edged up on Tuesday as energy stocks rose after Turkey downed a Russian military plane on the Syrian border.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 19.51 points, or 0.1%, to 17812.19. The S&P 500 climbed 2.55 points, or 0.1%, to 2089.14 (its energy sector rose 2.2%). The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.33 point, or less than 0.1%, to 5102.81.

Data showed on Wednesday that the U.S. economy expanded at a faster pace in the third quarter than a preliminary report had shown. The country's gross domestic product rose by 2.1% vs +1.5% reported earlier. Experts had expected the index to grow by 2.0%. Despite this revision the growth pace was much more modest than the 3.9% expansion in the third quarter.

A report from the Conference Board showed that the U.S. consumer confidence index fell to 90.4 points in November from 99.1 in October (revised from 97.6). Analysts had expected the index to come in at 99.5 points. The expectations index declined to 78.6 from 88.7, while the current assessment index fell to 108.1 from 114.6.

This morning in Asia Hong Kong Hang Seng declined 0.14%, or 32.02, to 22,555.61. China Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.56%, or 20.30, to 3.636.41. The Nikkei lost 0.29%, or 56.99, to 19,867.90.

Asian indices traded mixed amid escalating geopolitical tensions. Airlines' shares fell. A stronger yen weighed on Japanese exporters. Meanwhile stocks of Chinese producers of military aircrafts rose.