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

Nikkei 225 17,383.58 -24.04 -0.14%

Hang Seng 24,111.98 +268.07 +1.12%

Shanghai Composite 2,604.35 +36.75 +1.43%

FTSE 100 6,729.17 -1.97 -0.03%

CAC 40 4,373.42 -8.89 -0.20%

Xetra DAX 9,915.56 +54.35 +0.55%

S&P 500 2,072.83 +5.80 +0.28%

NASDAQ Composite 4,787.32 +29.07 +0.61%

Dow Jones 17,827.75 +12.81 +0.07%

U.S. stock futures were little changed as investors assessed data showing a drop in durable goods and an increase in jobless claims.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,383.58 -24.04 -0.14%

Hang Seng 24,111.98 +268.07 +1.12%

Shanghai Composite 2,604.89 +37.29 +1.45%

FTSE 6,732.71 +1.57 +0.02%

CAC 4,371.36 -10.95 -0.25%

DAX 9,881.83 +20.62 +0.21%

Crude oil $73.82 (-0.35%)

Gold $1196.70 (-0.02%)

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

European indices extend highs in today's trading session. The FTSE 100 index is currently trading higher 0.22% at 6,745.69 points, France's CAC 40 is up +0.04% currently quoted at 4,383.95 points and Germany's DAX 30 booked the biggest gains trading +0.66% at 9,926.27 points on upbeat data at the start of the week. The DAX successfully breached the 9825 resistance level and is heading for consecutive highs closing stronger for 10 days in a row, after its rebound from a one-year low in October. Markets await key U.S. data due later in the day at 13:30 GMT.

European stocks started with gains after mixed but still not worrying U.S. data helped by a climbing DAX which could close positively for the eighth time in a row today fuelled by optimism that a weaker euro will help German exporters. Investors continue to expect further stimulus from the ECB. Markets are awaiting important U.S. data on durable goods orders, initial jobless claims, personal income and spending, reports on new and pending home sales and data on consumer sentiment.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading with a plus of +0.28% at 6,749.73 points, Germany's DAX 30 continued to rally trading +0.44% at 9,904.59 points and France's CAC 40 trading +0.16% currently quoted at 4,389.13 points.

The DOW Jones and S&P 500 were trading lower on Tuesday after mixed U.S. data. The DOW Jones closed at 17,814.94, losing -0.02%, the S&P500 was up down -0.12% closing at 2,067.03 points, both declining from the record closings of the previous session. Today data on durable goods orders, initial jobless claims, personal income and spending and reports on new and pending home sales and revised data on consumer sentiment will be published.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng is trading +1.19% at 24,128.67. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 2,604.89 points, a gain of +1.45%. Both indices were supported by U.S. data published earlier in the day as there was a lack of market moving data in the region. Chinese indices have climbed after the central bank unexpectedly cut interest rates for the first time in two years to support growth.

Japan's Nikkei lost -0.14% closing higher at 17,383.58 points weighed by the climbing yen.