European shares extended gains to close sharply higher on Wednesday, with investor sentiment boosted by U.S. stocks reaching record highs and a successful Italian bond auction.
Most of Asia closed higher on Wednesday even as tensions with North Korea escalated, while the Shanghai market was almost flat after China logged a surprise trade deficit.
U.S. stock index futures edged higher Tuesday, lifted by upbeat economic data from Europe and China and following Alcoa's earnings report.
European shares closed mixed on Tuesday, with upward momentum coming from the basic resources sector as benign Chinese inflation data raised hopes of further monetary easing by Beijing.
Asian stock markets traded higher on Tuesday with Japanese stocks hitting near five-year highs as investors shifted their focus to the first quarter earnings season that is expected to show modest growth.
European shares were flat on Friday as talks over the "fiscal cliff" stalled.
The Fast Money traders share their final trades of the day.
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 5:00 PM ETAhead of the Fed meeting, the S&P 500 appears headed toward 1,687, StockMonster's Guy Adami says.
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 6:40 PM ETYou say the name of a stock, and Mad Money's Jim Cramer tells you whether to buy or sell.