Global stocks were lackluster Thursday after a payroll processor said U.S. employers slowed hiring last month and investors looked ahead to a European Central Bank meeting, AP reported. Oil declined but stayed above $102 per barrel after U.S. government data showed a fall in stockpiles of crude and rising supplies of refined fuels. In Europe, France's CAC-40 rose 0.1 percent to 4,505.12 and Germany's DAX was down 0.1 percent at 9,916.43. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.2 percent to 6,803.17. Dow Jones and S&P 500 futures were little changed. China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index added 0.8 percent to 2,040.88 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.2 percent to 23,109.66. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 added 0.1 percent 15,079.37. Sydney's S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.2 percent to 5,436.90. Singapore, Malaysia and Jakarta also fell, while Manila and Bangkok gained. In energy markets, U.S. crude for July delivery shed 47 cents to $102.17 after U.S. supplies fell by an unexpectedly large margin of 3.4 million barrels last week. The contract shed 2 cents Wednesday to close at $102.64. The euro rose to $1.3614 from $1.3601 late Wednesday. The dollar fell to 102.51 yen from 102.69 yen.
