Around the World's Markets; NEW YORK

US STOCKS ended mixed as investors remained in a cautious mood ahead of a key piece of economic data due at the end of the week.

Traders said a small rise in the Dow industrials was overshadowed by declines in other indicators and by market breadth which was decidedly negative.

The Dow Jones index rose 2.21 points - 0.02 per cent - to close at 11,036.34. The hi-tech Nasdaq index fell 28.52 points - 1.01 per cent - to end at 2,808.74.