(index / closing price / change items /% change)

Nikkei 225 17,635.14 +13.74 +0.08%

Hang Seng 23,408.57 +291.94 +1.26%

Shanghai Composite 3,127.44 +18.85 +0.61%

FTSE 100 6,576.74 +31.47 +0.48%

CAC 40 4,254.43 +12.78 +0.30%

Xetra DAX 9,865.76 +78.80 +0.81%

S&P 500 2,078.54 +7.89 +0.38%

NASDAQ Composite 4,781.42 +16.04 +0.34%

Dow Jones 17,959.44 +154.64 +0.87%

U.S. stock-index futures climbed amid investor optimism that the Federal Reserve will continue to support the economy.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,635.14 +13.74 +0.08%

Hang Seng 23,408.57 +291.94 +1.26%

Shanghai Composite 3,128.7 +20.10 +0.65%

FTSE 6,604.14 +58.87 +0.90%

CAC 4,266.99 +25.34 +0.60%

DAX 9,889.35 +102.39 +1.05%

Crude oil $56.69 (-0.79%)

Gold $1196.70 (+0.06%)

(company / ticker / price / change, % / volume)

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Other:

Nike (NKE) target raised to $101 from $96 at DA Davidson

FedEx (FDX) target raised to $195 from $175 at Argus

European indices added to early session gains being positive for a fifth consecutive day. Markets were lifted by rising energy shares profiting as oil prices reversed a slump in the price over the last month. Markets were also supported by Greek Prime Minister Samaras inviting independent pro-Europe members of the parliament into the government. If the parliament does not choose a new president by December 29^th elections will be held in February putting bailout negotiations at risk.

In today's session the FTSE 100 index added +0.78% quoted at 6,596.25 points, France's CAC 40 gained +0.97% trading at 4,282.95. Germany's DAX 30 is currently trading +0.99% at 9,884.21 points.

European indices continued to rise for a fifth day amid a global end-of-year rally tracking gains in Asian and U.S. markets as volumes thin out near the end of the year. Markets are supported by gains in the energy sector as oil prices recover. Markets await data on Eurozone's Consumer Confidence and U.S. Existing Home Sales.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.92% quoted at 6,605.27 points, Germany's DAX 30 added +0.64% trading at 9,849.34. France's CAC 40 rose by +1.14%, currently trading at 4,289.91 points.

U.S. markets closed higher on Friday for a third session as energy shares rebounded. The DOW JONES added +0.15% closing at 17,804.80 points, the S&P 500 gained +0.46% with a final quote of 2,070.65. Last week markets were broadly supported by the FED's "patient" approach to hike benchmark interest rates.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng added +1.26% to 23,408.02 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,128.70 points, a gain of +0.65% erasing some of its early gains retreating from new highs.

Japan's Nikkei added +0.08% closing at 17,635.14 at a two-week highs as a rise in oil prices supported energy stocks and weighed on airlines.