NEW YORK - US stocks edged higher to new highs as strong banking earnings helped offset a profit warning from UPS and fresh trouble for Boeing's Dreamliner aircraft. LONDON - European stock markets rose slightly, as traders weighed higher inflation data in the US and signals from China that growth this year could be slower than forecast. The US Labor Department said its producer price index rose 0.8 per cent in June. HONG KONG - Asian markets closed mixed, with a record-breaking close on Wall Street offset by profit-taking after the previous day's broad gains. Japan's Nikkei edged higher as traders bought back into the US dollar following comments from the head of the US Federal Reserve that its stimulus program would be kept in place for some time. Tokyo rose 0.23 per cent, or 33.67 points, to 14,506.25 but Seoul dipped 0.41 per cent, or 7.62 points, to 1,869.98 Shanghai fell 1.62 per cent, or 33.50 points, to 2,039.49 as profit-takers moved in after enjoying a more than three per cent rally Thursday. Hong Kong slipped 0.75 per cent, or 160.21 points, to 21,277.28. WELLINGTON - The NZX 50 Index gained 8.279 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 4,568.333.