U.S. markets closed higher on Tuesday for a fifth consecutive session on a solid set of U.S. data published yesterday. The DOW JONES added +0.36% closing at 18,024.17 above 18,000 points for the first time ever. The S&P 500 added +0.17% with a final quote of 2,082.17 closing at new records too after the unexpectedly strong report on economic growth.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng was almost flat at +0.07% closing at 23,349.34 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 2,973.76 points, a slump of -1.94%.

Japan's Nikkei , after being closed on Tuesday due to a holiday, rose to 17,854.23 points, a plus of +1.24%. It was the fifth straight day of gains. Exporter stocks rose on the weakening yen and solid U.S. data.

Tomorrow financial markets in the U.S., Europe and most of Asia - Japan and mainland China will be open - will be closed for Christmas holiday.