European stocks finished higher for the first time in three sessions on Tuesday, with Ocado Group PLC turning in the Stoxx Europe 600's best performance following a technology deal. The benchmark also was lifted by major oil companies after Royal Dutch Shell-an industry bellwether-provided an upbeat outlook, seen as demonstrating the worst of the crude-price slump is behind the sector.

US Stocks closed at records Tuesday after bouncing around during the regular session as geopolitical tensions and domestic developments pulled the market in different directions. All three main indexes had traded in record territory earlier but came off highs as North Korea tested a ballistic missile for the first time in more than two months. But the indexes soon regained lost ground after a Republican tax proposal moved a step closer to a Senate vote.

Chinese and Hong Kong stocks fell again after initial Wednesday morning gains, as investors in Asia largely shrugged off North Korea's latest missile launch. But some market focus has drifted temporarily from equities, as bitcoin cracked $10,000 for the first time in Asian trading. It is up more than 20% since Friday as the cryptocurrency has increasingly become mainstream. It was recently at $10,256.79, according to research site CoinDesk.