U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday as the Federal Reserve was seen refraining from raising U.S. interest rates soon, even as economic data showed the world's largest economy regained speed in the second quarter.
The minutes for the June 14-15 meeting of the U.S. central bank, which took place before Britons voted to leave the European Union, showed widespread unease over the "Brexit" vote, as well as a severe slowdown in hiring by U.S. employers.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI rose 78 points, or 0.44 percent, to 17,918.62, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 11.18 points, or 0.54 percent, to 2,099.73 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 36.26 points, or 0.75 percent, to 4,859.16.
European stocks fell on Wednesday, led lower by major banks and other financial stocks as worries persist about the impact of Britain's vote to leave the European Union.
The pan-European STOXX 600 and the similar FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 1.7 percent and 1.6 percent respectively, both striking a third day of losses in a row.
The STOXX Europe 600 banks index fell 2.6 percent to its lowest closing level since November 2011, with Caixabank down 1.6 percent after Spanish lender warned it expected a 1.25 billion euro hit related to mortgage clauses.
Asian markets opened modestly higher on Thursday, likely taking cues from a stronger finish in the U.S., helped by rising oil prices and the release of dovish Federal Reserve minutes.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS edged up 0.5 percent, having shed 1 percent on Wednesday when fears over European instability swept markets.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
Thai
Eng