U.S. markets closed mixed Thursday with investors rattled by turmoil over Greek debt.
In Athens, Prime Minister George Papandreou is assembling a new Cabinet to work out severe austerity measures required to keep Greece on track to receive its next tranche from a $155 billion emergency loan program granted last year. European finance ministers are discussing a second round of aid while the first bailout package appears to be in jeopardy.
Investors digested mixed economic data Thursday. RealtyTrac said U.S. foreclosure auctions rose 3 percent in May, while default filings dropped 2 percent. The Commerce Department said home construction starts rose 3.5 percent April to May. First-time jobless claims dropped by 6,000 in the week, the Labor Department said.
By close of trading, the Dow Jones industrial average added 64.25 points or 0.54 percent to 11,961.52. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 2.22 or 0.18 percent to 1,267.64. The Nasdaq composite index dropped 7.76 or 0.29 percent to 2,623.70.
On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,367 stocks advanced and 1,637 declined on a volume of 4 billion shares traded.
The benchmark 10-year treasury note rose 11/32 to yield 2.931 percent.
The euro rose to $1.4192 from Wednesday's $1.4181. Against the yen, the dollar fell to 80.61 from Wednesday's 80.95.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index lost 1.01 percent, 163.04, to 9,411.28.
In London, the FTSE 100 index dropped 0.76 percent, 43.74, to 5,698.81.