The Dow Jones Industrial Average snapped a six-day losing streak, ending the day up 19.98 points.

The S&P was also higher, but the NASDAQ ended the day negative.

In the U.S. there was slightly better news on weekly jobless claims, renewing hopes that the job market may yet be healing.  The better day on Wall Street came after European markets ended their day in the green.

There are a few new signs that European governments may come up with new and possibly more effective measures to reign in their economic crisis.  For instance, there are now hopes that the Greeks will cobble together a government, allowing the country to receive the next round of bailout money.

Markets are also grappling with concerns about growth in China, muting any major exuberance.

As there is a trickle of good news about the global economy, oil prices go up.  Oil too snapped a six-day downward streak.

Oil settled at $97.08, up 27 cents for the day.