U.S. STOCK MARKETS

U.S. stocks finished slightly higher Wednesday as investors calibrated two positive readings on the U.S. economy against hopes for more help from the Federal Reserve.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 4.49 points, or 0.03%, to 13107.48 for its first gain in three days. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index added 1.19 points, or 0.08%, to 1410.49, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 4.05 points, or 0.13%, to 3081.19.

Leading the day's gains were telecommunications and consumer-discretionary stocks. Verizon Communications led the Dow components with a 1% advance, while energy and utilities shares weighed. Coca-Cola lost 1.4% to make it the biggest decliner on the Dow.

The modest gains came after a pair of readings on the U.S. economy came in better than expected. A revision to U.S. gross domestic product in the second quarter showed growth at 1.7% from the previous quarter, higher than an original reading of 1.5% and in-line with economists' expectations.

The stronger reading reflects higher consumer spending and fewer imports. Separately, pending home sales for July increased 2.4% in July after declining 1.4% in June. The rise exceeded the 1% gain expected by analysts and pushed the number of pending home sales to the highest since April 2010.

The Federal Reserve also released its beige book report on economic conditions around the country, which saw modest and moderate growth across the U.S. Most districts saw steady or "slightly" growing employment.

That report jibed with expectations that the Fed could soon act to boost the economy, with more clarity to come as soon as Friday, when Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks at a meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

In corporate news, shares of H.J. Heinz fell 2.3% after the ketchup maker reported better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter earnings but revenue that fell short of forecasts.

Yelp jumped 23% even as 52.7 million shares became available for sale, marking the end of a 180-day lockup period on stock sales by company insiders following the online-review-website company's initial public offering. That is an unusual move for the end of a lockup period, but its shares had plunged 31% over the previous three weeks. WellPoint climbed 7.7% after the health insurer said Chief Executive Angela Braly resigned Tuesday.

EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS

European stock markets ended a volatile Wednesday trading session on a downbeat note, with banks and miners leading declines, although well-received U.S. economic growth data had briefly sent stocks into positive territory.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 0.1% to close at 267.01, its lowest closing value since Aug. 6. Bouygues SA posted the biggest drop in the pan-European index, off 9%, as the construction-to-telecom firm said it expects full-year profit for its mobile unit to come in lower than previously forecast.

Cosmetics and beauty firm L'Oreal SA fell 4.4% after it reported a drop in operating margin in its first-half earnings statement. The losses weighed on France's CAC 40 index, which fell 0.5% to 3,413.89.

Societe Generale SA slipped 0.7%. The bank said it is in talks with Greece's Piraeus Bank SA to sell its unit Geniki. The broader European stock markets shortly reversed direction in afternoon action, after data showed the U.S. economy grew at a 1.7% rate in the second quarter versus an earlier estimate of 1.5%.

Investors were also waiting for U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to talk at a conference in Jackson Hole, Wyo., on Friday, where any hints of further easing action to boost the economy will be scrutinized.

The European Central Bank's interest-rate decision next week was also a focus for investors. Portugal's debt situation was also in the spotlight, after the Portuguese daily Economico reported that the country may get a break on its 2012 deficit target from the troika of the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund.

The PSI 20 index closed slightly lower at 4,977.94. Risk sensitive sectors, such as banks and resource firms, were among the biggest decliners in Europe.

Spain's Banco Santander SA fell 1.5% and put pressure on the IBEX 35 index. The index lost 0.4% to 7,306.00. In the U.K., miners dragged the benchmark index lower as metals prices dropped across the board. Rio Tinto PLC lost 3.1% and BHP Billiton PLC fell 1.5%.

The FTSE 100 index slid 0.6% to 5,743.53, further weighed by HSBC Holdings PLC, off 0.8%, and Barclays PLC, down 1.4%. Among German stocks, Deutsche Lufthansa AG dropped 1.3% amid failed negotiations between the airline and German labor union UFO, representing the cabin crew, which could lead to strikes. UFO, however, said there won't be a strike Wednesday. The DAX 30 index, however, closed 0.1% higher at 7,010.57.

ASIA-PACIFIC STOCK MARKETS

Asian markets were mixed Wednesday, ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech at Jackson Hole Friday, while there was a flurry of activity in Japan's technology sector.

The Nikkei added 0.4% to 9069.81, as a busy session for the technology sector spiced up the day's trading. Renesas Electronics Corp. soared 35% on news that private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. had approached the struggling semiconductor manufacturer with an investment offer.

Shares in one of Renesas' major shareholders, NEC, climbed 6.5%, amid hopes for a deal. Shares in Sharp Corp. gained 7% ahead of talks Thursday between the firm and Terry Gou, the chairman of Hon Hai Precision Industry.

Daikin Industries dropped 3.5% after the company said it had agreed to buy U.S. home air conditioner company Goodman Global in a deal valued at $3.7 billion.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down 0.1% at 19788.51, as the market digested more earnings reports from Chinese companies. China Life Insurance Co. added 2% as investors focused more on its 2.5% growth in new business value rather than a 26% decline in first-half net profits.

Also in Hong Kong, Evergrande Real Estate Group lost 3.1% after reporting that its first-half core earnings slipped 21% as the developer cut property prices to increase sales. The Shanghai Composite was down 1% at 2053.23 due to pessimism over the local economy.

In South Korea, the Kospi was up 0.6% at 1928.54, supported by heavyweight constituent Samsung Electronics which added 2.9%, continuing to regain some of the 7.5% it lost Monday after a U.S. court ruling decided that it had violated Apple's patents.

COMMODITIES

Base metals closed mostly lower on the London Metal Exchange Wednesday tin extended losses, though analysts see scope for further moves upwards for the thinly traded metal.

At the close, LME three-month copper was 0.4% lower on the day at $7,575 a metric ton; tin fell almost 6% toward the session end. A pause in the euro's rally against the dollar combined with concerns over mixed signals regarding the health of the European and Chinese economies dented market sentiment, analysts said.

Overall, the complex consolidated lower as investors looked to these non-fundamental drivers to dictate positions while awaiting a key meeting of central bankers later in the week.

Crude-oil futures settled lower Wednesday after U.S. government data showed oil inventories rose unexpectedly last week. Selling was also spurred by market participants' widespread belief that oil pipelines, drilling platforms and refineries in the key Gulf Coast region will restart quickly after Hurricane Isaac.

Initial reports say the storm caused minimal damage. But the market was more focused on news that crude stocks posted an unexpected rise of 3.778 million barrels last week.

The data from the Energy Information Administration ran counter to expectations from analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires, who anticipated a decline of 1.5 million barrels in crude-oil stocks in the week. October delivery crude-oil futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange settled 0.9%, or 84 cents, lower at $95.49 a barrel.

On the Intercontinental Exchange, North Sea Brent crude oil for October delivery settled 4 cents lower, at $112.54 a barrel. Gold futures fell on caution ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's economic policy summit later this week. The most actively traded gold contract, for December delivery, fell $6.70, or 0.4%, to settle at $1,663 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Compiled from MORRISON SECURITIES PTY. LTD