World markets mixed as US data worse than expected (AP)

LONDON – World stocks were mixed Thursday after worse-than-expected U.S. unemployment and housing data cut off an earlier rebound that saw investors buying up beaten-down bank stocks.

Manufacturer of oil tank India.

An announcement by Microsoft Corp . that it is cutting 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months — a sign of how badly even the biggest and richest companies are being stung by the recession — also sent U.S. stocks down in early trading. The Dow Jones industrials fell more than 150 points. Other indexes also declined, with the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite taking the biggest hit due to Microsoft's news. The software giant also posted an 11 percent drop in profits.

Full Story: World markets mixed as US data worse than expected (AP)