US markets in positive territory on employment data

US markets recovered from initial falls on the opening bell as investors digested an ECB rate freeze and some positive US employment data.

The main markets opened lower but quickly edged back into positive territory, with the Dow up 0.13% to 10,953 and the S&P 500 up 0.31% to 1,147.

The European Central Bank today decided not to lower interest rates, but European markets remained positive, with France's Cac 40 and the German Dax building on yesterday's rally. The Cac 40 had climbed 1.49% to reach 3,018.12, while the Dax edged up 0.27% to 5,487.92 by mid-afternoon.

Positive job data from the US showed claims rose less than analysts had forecast, by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 401,000 the week ended 1 October, according to the Labor Department.

Investors were cautiously eyeing Apple shares, after the news of CEO Steve Jobs' passing was expected to prompt a correction, but the stock only edged down 0.3% on opening.

Meanwhile, in London, the Bank of England's announcement of a further £75bn of quantitative easing added to this mornings gains on the FTSE 100 index.

Shares climbed 1.94% to reach 5,201 on the London index by mid-afternoon.