World Markets Mixed as S&P Hits High   12/24 04:46

   World shares were mixed on Wednesday after the benchmark S&P 500 closed at 
another record high following a report that the U.S. economy grew at an 
unexpectedly strong 4.3% annual rate in July to September.

   HONG KONG (AP) -- World shares were mixed on Wednesday after the benchmark 
S&P 500 closed at another record high following a report that the U.S. economy 
grew at an unexpectedly strong 4.3% annual rate in July to September.

   The futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 
less than 0.1%.

   Britain's FTSE 100 was down 0.2% at 9,870.89, while the CAC 40 in Paris 
added 0.2% to 8,121.32.

   Stock exchanges including those in London, Paris, Hong Kong and Australia 
have closed early or will be closing early on Christmas Eve. Germany's markets 
were closed for the day.

   U.S. markets will end early Wednesday for Christmas Eve and stay closed for 
Christmas.

   In Asian trading, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 fell 0.1% to 50,344.10 and South 
Korea's Kospi slipped 0.2% to 4,108.62.

   Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.2% to 25,818.93. The Shanghai Composite index 
edged 0.5% higher, to 3,940.95.

   In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 slipped nearly 0.4% to 8,762.70. Taiwan's 
Taiex picked up 0.2% while the Sensex in India fell 0.1%.

   Gold and silver extended their rally after hitting record highs this week 
driven by heightened geopolitical tensions. The price of gold rose 0.3% early 
Wednesday to $4,525.20 per ounce, adding to gains of about 70% for the year. 
Silver rose 1.6%.

   On Tuesday, big gains for tech stocks pushed the S&P 500 up 0.5%, even 
though most stocks in the index fell. The Dow industrials added 0.2% and the 
Nasdaq composite rose 0.6%.

   The U.S. government's first estimate of growth for the third quarter showed 
inflation remained high, while a separate report said consumer confidence faded 
further in December. The U.S. economy expanded at a 3.8% annual pace in 
April-June.

   The Federal Reserve's favored inflation gauge -- called the personal 
consumption expenditures index, or PCE -- climbed to a 2.8% annual pace in the 
last quarter, up from 2.1% in the second quarter.

   On Wednesday, the Labor Department will release its weekly data on 
applications for jobless benefits, which stands as a proxy for U.S. layoffs.

   Investors are betting the Fed will hold steady on interest rates at its 
January meeting. Recent reports show high inflation and shaky confidence among 
consumers worried about high prices. The labor market has been slowing and 
retail sales have weakened.

   In other dealings early Wednesday, the dollar continued to fall against the 
Japanese yen, after officials said they could intervene with excessive moves in 
the yen. The dollar was trading at 155.83 yen, down from 156.17 yen.

   The euro rose to $1.1797 from $1.1796.

   Oil prices edged higher as traders kept an eye on risks of supply 
disruptions in Venezuela and Russia.

   U.S. benchmark crude oil added 12 cents to $58.50 per barrel. Brent crude 
gained 8 cents to $61.95 per barrel.