US stocks edge lower on mixed earnings, Greece worries

US stocks finished barely lower Thursday following mixed earnings and lackluster economic data as worries about Greece's finances returned to the forefront.

At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 18,108.20, down 4.41 points (0.02 percent).

The broad-based S&P 500 dipped 1.53 (0.07 percent) to 2,105.10, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index shed 3.23 (0.06 percent) at 5,007.79.

New construction of homes in the United States rose 2.0 percent to an annual rate of 926,000 units, the Commerce Department said, a smaller increase than expected.

Initial claims for US unemployment insurance benefits rose to 294,000 last week, their highest level in six weeks and well above estimates, according to Labor Department data.

Equity markets in Britain, France and Germany fell sharply on concerns about slow progress in bailout negotiations between Greece and international creditors.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde played down talk of Greece delaying its debt payment to the Fund next month.