(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors) After a positive start US shares turned lower as investors mulled the move by the Swiss central bank and digested economic reports.
The nation's second largest bank was also in focus - BoA - as it reported an 11% fall in profits.
The benchmark Dow dropped 64 points to 17364 the Nasdaq lost 32 and S&P500 lost eight to go to 2003.
The Swiss national bank surprised markets across the globe Thursday by giving up the minimum exchange rate of CHF1.20 against the EURO which had been aimed at shielding the economy from the region's sovereign debt crisis.
The Swiss franc - considered a haven like gold surged in value against the Euro and the dollar after the move was announced.
Meanwhile buoying investor sentiment was a firming of commody prices after reent weakness with crude finally gaining some ground.
Meanwhile on the economic front there were a batch of releases which painted a mixed picture.
Claims for joblessness across the pond jumped above the 300000 level the highest since September last year while producer prices posted the biggest decline last month in more than three years.
On the corporate front shares in eased 2.46% on S&P500 after it disappointed with Q4 numbers.
Revenue dropped to US19mln from US$21.7bn while net income came in at US$3.1bn down from US$3.4bn in the fourth quarter a year ago.
In London Footsie had recovered from earlier losses to be 53 points ahead with () the biggest gainer as the price of gold rose.
The biggest loser was DIY chain owner () down 3.86%.
Elsewhere Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail () has taken a battering - down almost 6% - after a disappointing update on Christmas trading.
() notched up almost 2% as its Primark stores continued to have their finger on the pulse of the cost-conscious British consumer; unfortunately a strong performance by the cut-price clothing chain was offset by continued tough times in its sugar divisions where prices continue to slump.
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