NEW YORK - US stocks finished a volatile trading session higher following improved jobless claims data and a mixed bag of corporate earnings. At the closing bell on Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 28.03 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 14,704.33. After touching close to break-even, the index rallied in the final minutes for a gain. The broad-based S&P 500 rose 6.61 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 1,585.40. The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 20.33 points, or 0.62 per cent, to 3,289.99. New claims for US unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level since mid-March. Initial claims came in at 339,000, down from the prior week's revised reading of 362,000. LONDON - European stock markets mostly rose in the wake of recent strong gains as traders reacted to news of soaring Spanish unemployment and surprising British growth figures, while earnings updates from major pharmaceuticals were also in focus. Indices had enjoyed large gains during the previous two days on growing expectations of an interest rate cut by the European Central Bank. At closing on Thursday, London's FTSE 100 index of leading companies rose 0.17 per cent to 6,442.59 points. In Frankfurt, the DAX 30 climbed 0.95 per cent to 7,832.86 points, while in Paris the CAC 40 slipped 0.06 per cent to 3,840.47 points. Madrid's IBEX 35 lost 0.29 per cent to 8,365.1 points after official data showed Spain's unemployment rate soared to a new record of 27.16 per cent of the workforce in the first quarter of 2013 and the number of those without jobs surpassed six million. The euro fell to $US1.3004 from $US1.3014 late on Wednesday in New York. HONG KONG - Asian markets have mostly finished up, with quiet trade after an anaemic close on Wall Street and the dollar's recent rally seeming to have levelled just short of the 100 yen mark. With few catalysts driving action, eyes are moving to Friday's policy decision by the Bank of Japan to see if it adds to the huge stimulus measures unveiled earlier this month as part of a drive to kickstart the economy. Tokyo added 0.60 per cent, or 82.62 points, to 13,926.08, while Seoul gained 0.84 per cent, or 16.29 points, to 1,951.60 Hong Kong ended Thursday 0.98 per cent higher, adding 218.19 points to 22,401.24 but Shanghai fell 0.86 per cent, or 19.01 points, to 2,199.31. WELLINGTON - Wellington was closed for a public holiday.