Global stocks are mixed after U.S. stocks pulled closer to their record highs following economic reports that came in close to expectations. European markets were mostly higher in early trading Friday after the European Central Bank reduced interest rates again on Thursday. Chinese authorities imposed a six-month ban on the accounting firm PwC and fined it over 400 million yuan ($56.4 million) for its involvement in the audit of the Chinese developer Evergrande. The Japanese yen strengthened against the dollar. U.S. futures and oil prices rose. The S&P 500 climbed 0.7% on Thursday and pulled within 1.3% of its record set in July. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 1%.
