World shares mixed: Europe awaits ECB, China GDP lifts Asia

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were mixed on Wednesday as European investors awaited the outcome of the latest regional central bank meeting.

Asian markets mostly rose after China reported its economy expanded at a steady 6.7 percent pace in the July-September quarter.

The 6.7 percent annual pace of growth was supported by strong consumer spending that helped offset weakness in trade.

Financial sector growth is also likely to have recovered as last year's equity bubble dropped out of the base for comparison, Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics said in a commentary.

Surprisingly strong earnings from Netflix, UnitedHealth Group and other companies put investors in a buying mood Tuesday, driving U.S. stocks solidly higher.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost 0.4 percent to 23,304.97, while India's Sensex turned around early losses to gain less than 0.1 percent, at 28,064.65.