US blue chips ended Wednesday's session with mild gains on strong US data. US non-farm productivity jumped by 2.2% in Q2 beating forecasts of a 1.8% increase. Mounting hopes that the ECB will announce easing program at the press conference due on Thursday also lifted US blue chips. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index inched up by 0.09% to close at 13,047.48. Six out of nine sectors included in the index moved higher. Consumer services and industrials created the strongest upward pressure on the stock index. McDonald's, 3M and Caterpillar rose by 0.01%, 0.08% and 0.11%, respectively. Oil and gas firms were mixed, with Chevron retreating 0.40% and Exxon Mobil climbing 0.24% amid flat crude oil prices. At the same time, financials weighted down on the Dow Jones index. American Express, Bank of America and Travelers Cos tumbled 2.42%, 0.63% and 0.17%, respectively.