S&P 500 closes flat, Nasdaq dips as market comeback rally takes a breather; European stocks close mixed as investors assess inflation, earnings; Aegon up 9% 
Stocks struggled for direction on Thursday as investors mulled another better-than-expected inflation report. 
The S&P 500 closed down 0.07% at 4,207.27, while the Nasdaq Composite slumped 0.58% to end the day at 12,779.91. The Dow nudged upward by 27.16 points, or 0.08%, to finish at 33,336.67. The three major averages opened the session higher but lost steam as the day progressed. 
One bright spot for markets was Disney. The stock jumped more than 4% after the media giant posted stronger-than-anticipated subscriber numbers for the last quarter, along with earnings and revenue that topped expectations. Disney also said it would raise prices for Disney+. 
Shares of Pfizer fell more than 3% Thursday as the pharmaceutical giant got caught in a flurry of lawsuits alleging that the once-popular antacid Zantac causes cancer. Pfizer acquired Zantac 75mg OTC drug in 2000 and started selling it in 2004. 

The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally closed fractionally above the flatline, with oil and gas stocks climbing 2% while health care stocks fell 1%. 
Aegon shares climbed more than 9% to lead the Stoxx 600 after the Dutch insurer raised its full-year guidance. 
Danish pharmaceutical company ALK-Abello jumped 8% after beating second-quarter earnings expectations. 
Source: CNBC, Investing.com