* U.S. shares end mixed, hurt by financials and energy
* Gold edges to another record high of $1,216.75
* U.S. dollar gains on yen after BOJ unveils stimulus plan (Updates with closing prices, adds comment)
By Daniel Bases
NEW YORK, Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended mixed on Wednesday, dragged down by financial and energy shares, while gold rose to a new high even as the U.S. dollar firmed.
Wall Street fell after stocks briefly touching a 14-month highs on better-than-expected U.S. employment data.
Financials were hurt by concerns over pending U.S. derivatives legislation, cutting short early buying momentum.
Weaker oil prices stoked a sell-off in energy-related
stocks. Exxon Mobil Corp
European share prices managed closed higher on news U.S. private employers shed 169,000 jobs in November versus 195,000 in October. This marked the eighth straight monthly decline in private-sector job losses, according to ADP Employer Services report, jointly developed with Macroeconomic Advisers LLC. [ID:nN02192113]
Stocks in Japan closed at two-week highs on short-covering after the yen fell against the greenback. A plan by the Bank of Japan to boost economic support ended up stalling a rally in the yen to the benefit of the U.S. dollar. [ID:nT182340]
"The bias toward yen strength that was prevalent the last few weeks has turned, especially after the Bank of Japan announced those quantitative easing measures yesterday," said Ron Simpson, director of FX research at Action Economics in Tampa, Florida.
Nervousness over credit problems for Dubai, which proved a drag on global markets starting late last week have since dissipated as investors sort through just how much of a debt overhang there is from the city-state.
State-controlled Dubai World [DBWLD.UL], which led the emirate's transformation into a regional hub for finance, investment and tourism, unveiled details late on Monday of the restructuring and which parts of its empire were affected. The process will focus on $26 billion of debt owed by its main property firms, Nakheel and Limitless. [ID:nGEE5B000Z]
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 18.90 points,
or 0.18 percent, to 10,452.68. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index
<.SPX> edged up just 0.38 points, or 0.03 percent, at 1,109.24.
The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC>, boosted by gains in
Internet retailer Amazon.com Inc
JPMorgan Chase & Co
"The banks don't know what the heightened financial reform is going to be. There is no clarity to regulation," said Weston Boone, vice president of listed trading at Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets in Baltimore.
The FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> index of top European shares closed 0.5 percent higher at 1,015.77 points. Japan's benchmark Nikkei <.N225> inched up 36.74 points to 9,608.94 to close at its highest level since Nov. 18.
The MSCI All-Country World Index <.MIWD00000PUS> rose 0.25 percent to 300.33.
GREENBACKS AND GOLD
In a breakdown of the current inverse relationship of a stronger U.S. dollar and weaker price for gold, both financial instruments gained ground on Wednesday.
The dollar rose versus a basket of major trading-partner currencies, with the U.S. Dollar Index <.DXY> up 0.37 percent at 74.64.
Against the Japanese yen, the dollar
"We had very strong yen appreciation (recently), and now there's some retracement. Risk appetite is a little bit stronger than it was last week when we had the Dubai news, so investors are taking profits," said Marcus Hettinger, FX strategist at Credit Suisse in Zurich.
The euro
Investors' attention has turned to the European Central Bank's policy meeting on Thursday. It is widely expected to keep its refi rate on hold at one percent, but also to give guidance on the timing and extent of how it intends to withdraw generous liquidity stimulus from the system.
Spot gold prices
Crude oil prices fell after a U.S. government report showed
domestic inventories rose far more than expected last week. The
price for a barrel of U.S. light sweet crude oil
U.S. benchmark 10-year Treasuries