EU STOCKS hold mix

European stock markets struggled for direction in early action on Thursday, ahead of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's second day of testimony before Congress. The Chairman spoke Wednesday to the House Financial Services Committee and stressed that the central bank will be very responsive to economic data when considering a reduction in its asset purchases.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index was slightly lower at 296.99, after adding 0.6% on Wednesday. Among country-specific indexes, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 index climbed 0.3% to 6,587.08 and France's CAC 40 index rose 0.2% to 3,878.52. Germany's DAX 30 index slipped 0.1% to 8,242.88.

In Europe, Greek lawmakers passed a bill that puts thousands of state workers on notice for possible dismissal, a victory for Prime Minister Antonis Samaras that clears the way for the country’s next bailout installment. The vote came hours before German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble arrives in Athens for a one-day visit.

“Greece’s passage of the austerity bill may halt a decline in the euro in the near term,” said Kengo Suzuki, the chief currency strategist at Mizuho Securities Co.. 

Shares of Akzo Nobel NV slumped 5.7% after the paints company reported a drop in second-quarter operating income. 

Shares of Ericsson LM dropped 4.5% after second-quarter profit missed expectations.

Publicis, the third-biggest advertising company, climbed 2.8% as profit rose. 

WPP Plc, the world’s biggest advertising company, advanced 2.4%.

London Stock Exchange Group Plc (LSE) advanced 5% to 1,554 pence, the highest price in more than five years, as the operator of Europe’s oldest independent bourse reported a 39% increase in first-quarter revenue.

SAP, the biggest maker of business-management software, retreated 2.1%.

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