NEW YORK, New York - World stock markets closed Thursday with a mixed picture, as major U.S. benchmarks, particularly in the technology sector,  pulled back while European and several Asia-Pacific indices posted gains.

On Wall Street, the Standard and Poor's 500 (GSPC) fell 23.59 points, or 0.30 percent, to close at 7,720.39, trading within a range of 7,690.94 to 7,732.21.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) slipped 132.54 points, or 0.25 percent, to 52,342.56, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) dropped 365.13 points, or 1.38 percent, to 26,184.72.

"I think we're in a better, more stable place in October and heading into November in the tech trade than we were in August and September. But that said, I think investors are becoming much more selective," Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth Management, told CNBC Thursday. "I think we're in an environment where there's less concern and negativity over tech writ large, but I think specifically, you can certainly get announcements from individual players that will move the needle."

Despite the headline declines, breadth was positive. The NYSE Composite Index (^NYA) rose 255.95 points, or 1.05 percent, to 24,517.22, and the Russell 2000 Index (^RUT) added 28.71 points, or 1.01 percent, to 2,859.22. The NYSE American Composite Index (^XAX) bucked the trend, easing 19.59 points, or 0.23 percent, to 8,325.41.

In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite index (^GSPTSE) was essentially flat, down 16.06 points, or 0.04 percent, at 36,249.03.

In the UK and Europe, stocks were broadly higher. The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) in London gained 27.57 points, or 0.26 percent, to 10,722.07. Germany's DAX P (^GDAXI) climbed 335.66 points, or 1.31 percent, to 26,039.68, and France's CAC 40 (^FCHI) advanced 83.04 points, or 1.05 percent, to 7,970.00. The EURO STOXX 50 I (^STOXX50E) rose 39.26 points, or 0.64 percent, to 6,207.07, the Euronext 100 Index (^N100) added 13.97 points, or 0.74 percent, to 1,889.65, and Belgium's BEL 20 (^BFX) gained 24.63 points, or 0.42 percent, to 5,840.26.

Asian markets were mixed. Japan's Nikkei 225 (^N225) surged 705.28 points, or 1.10 percent, to 64,659.47. India's S&P BSE SENSEX (^BSESN) jumped 905.01 points, or 1.24 percent, to 74,151.04. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 (^AXJO) rose 44.50 points, or 0.50 percent, to 8,891.80, and the ALL ORDINARIES (^AORD) added 41.20 points, or 0.46 percent, to 9,012.60. New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 INDEX GROSS (^NZ50) edged up 18.84 points, or 0.14 percent, to 13,710.17.

Hong Kong's HANG SENG INDEX (^HSI) declined 136.18 points, or 0.59 percent, to 22,958.65. Singapore's STI Index (^STI) slipped 1.88 points, or 0.03 percent, to 5,396.03. South Korea's KOSPI Composite Index (^KS11) fell 74.78 points, or 1.24 percent, to 5,937.66, and Taiwan's TSEC CAPITALIZATION WEIGHTED ST (^TWII) dropped 667.25 points, or 1.42 percent, to 46,368.33. China's SSE Composite Index (000001.SS) lost 30.04 points, or 0.82 percent, to 3,651.43.

Elsewhere, Indonesia's IDX COMPOSITE (^JKSE) tumbled 184.25 points, or 3.49 percent, to 5,098.06, while Malaysia's FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (^KLSE) dipped 2.71 points, or 0.17 percent, to 1,611.16.

In the Middle East and Africa, Israel's TA-125 (^TA125.TA) added 3.88 points, or 0.10 percent, to 4,010.89. Egypt's EGX 30 Price Return Index (^CASE30) gained 314.90 points, or 0.64 percent, to 49,596.10, and South Africa's Top 40 USD Net TRI Index (^JN0U.JO) rose 40.70 points, or 0.62 percent, to 6,589.07.

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Photo credit: NYSE