US markets ended mixed on Thursday, as European leaders sought to reassure investors that a solution to the debt crisis would come soon. Germany and France released a statement on Thursday, saying that leaders would now hold two summits to discuss the debt crisis, with a solution in place by Wednesday's second meeting.So the Dow Jones Industrial average gained 37 points, or 0.3 percent, at 11,542. And the Standard & Poor's 500 index inched up 6 points, or 0.5 percent, at 1,215. But the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 5 points, 0.2 percent, at 2,599.In economic news, US economic data showed factory activity in the US Mid-Atlantic region rebounded in October. A separate report showed that US jobless claims fell last week.In earnings season news, Thomson Reuters data said that of the 109 companies in the S&P 500 that have reported earnings, 70 percent topped analysts' expectations. And Microsoft reported a 6 per cent rise in its net income for the July to September quarter. But after the closing bell, Microsoft's shares fell 0.5%.