US stocks finish little changed after volatile session

NEW YORK (AFP) - Wall Street stocks finished little changed on Thursday following another rocky trading session, as the market weighed better US economic data against fears over global growth.

At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 16,105.48, down 36.26 points (0.22 per cent), rebounding after losing more than 200 points earlier in the session.

The broad-based S&P 500 slipped 0.29 (0.02 per cent) to 1,862.20, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 2.07 (0.05 per cent) to 4,217.39.

US stocks appeared headed for another dismal performance early in the day as fears over the European economy took hold.

But investors took heart from a 1 per cent gain in US industrial production in September and a drop in weekly jobless claims to a 14-year low.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.