US stocks end higher for third straight session

The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.3%, or 130 points, to 44,156 points.

The S&P 500 Index increased 0.6%, or 43 points, to 6,086 points, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced about 1.3%, or 252 points, to 20,009 points.

As for the European indices, STOXX Europe 600 gained 0.4% to 528 points, limited by losses in the utilities, mining, and banking sectors.

The French CAC 40 added 0.85% to 7,837, and the British FTSE 100 remained unchanged at 8,545 points. The German DAX 40 inched up 1% to 21,254 points,

In Japan, Nikkei 225 advanced 1.6%, or 618 points, to 39,646 points. The broader TOPIX index added 0.85% to 2,737points.

In the oil market, futures prices for standard Brent crude for March delivery eased by 0.35%, or $0.29, to $79 per barrel.

Futures prices for US Nymex crude for February delivery ( the most active) dropped 0.5%, or $0.39, at $75.44 a barrel.

As for gold, the prices of gold futures contracts for February delivery rose by 0.4%, or $11.7, to $2,770.90 per ounce.