European stocks finished with modest losses Wednesday, as the region's main benchmark retreated for a second day in a row. Steinhoff International Holdings NV and Saga PLC dived after troubling updates, and tech shares also fronted the losses.

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Wednesday, as weakness in the energy sector spurred some minor selling that offset a recovery in the technology sector. The S&P 500 ended essentially unchanged on the day, although it closed in slightly negative territory. That made for its fourth straight lower close, its longest losing streak since March.

Asia stocks largely steadied Thursday after European and U.S. equities overnight showed scant reaction to big stock declines a day earlier in the region. While more moderate than Wednesday, selling continued in China, South Korea and Taiwan. But Japan's Nikkei Stock Average NIK, +1.06% rebounded, rising 1.2% after Wednesday's 2% decline, the most since March.