US stocks ended mixed on Thursday as investors weighed higher oil prices and continuing concerns about the financial sector, in particular Lehman Brothers and mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Early selling pressure had left the S&P 500 barely in positive territory for the month before it gained ground later in the session to finish higher. At the close of trading in New York, the S&P was up 0.2 per cent at 1,277.66, leaving it 12.99 per cent lower so far this year.