U.S. markets closed higher on Friday for a fourth consecutive session despite disappointing data on Existing Home sales and ahead of a set of important data today, including the GDP's final revision for the third Quarter along with new homes sales, consumer spending and durable goods.. The DOW JONES added +0.87% closing at 17,959.44 points, only 41 points short of the 18,000 points mark. The S&P 500 added +0.38% with a final quote of 2,078.54. It was the 50^th record closing high for the index this year. Markets continue to be broadly supported by the FED's "patient" approach to hike benchmark interest rates.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined by -0.36% to 23,323.18 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,035.01 points, a slump of -2.96% after investors took profit after the recent rally.

Japan's Nikkei was closed today due to a holiday.