US stocks end mixed, Dow Jones adds 270 points

US stock indices ended Thursday on a mixed note, as investors pared risk exposure in the technology sector, while defense stocks posted gains after President Donald Trump called for increased defense spending.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.55%, or 270 points, higher at 49,266.

The broader S&P 500 finished flat at 6,921, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.44%, or 104 points, to 23,480.

The Nasdaq’s decline was weighed down by losses in Nvidia, which fell 2.17% to $185. Oracle was also down 1.65% to $189.65, with Apple slipping 0.50% to $259.04.

In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 edged down 0.20% to 603.83, with gains in defense stocks limiting losses.

Germany’s DAX closed flat at 25,127, while the UK’s FTSE 100 ended unchanged at 10,044. France’s CAC 40 rose 0.10% to 8,243.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 dropped 1.65% to 51,117, while the broader Topix fell 0.75% to 3,484.

Oil prices rose sharply, with March Brent futures climbing 3.39%, or $2.03, to $61.99 a barrel, while February WTI futures gained 3.16%, or $1.77, to $57.76 a barrel.

Gold futures for February delivery settled unchanged at $4,460.70 an ounce.