A pick-up in Chinese manufacturing and expectations of monetary easing drove North Asian shares higher but political tensions in Seoul and Sydney put a cap on further regional gains.
European shares pared their earlier gains to close narrowly mixed Wednesday as investors watched to see if Russia will extend or increase its loan agreement for struggling Cyprus.
Stock index futures were higher on Tuesday as investors tried to shake off worries over Cyprus and following a better-than-expected housing starts report.
European shares closed lower on Tuesday as markets await the outcome of a critical vote in Cyprus to tax bank deposits.
European shares were flat on Friday as talks over the "fiscal cliff" stalled.
The world's second-wealthiest man explains to CNBC why workers in Europe and other parts of the developed world are at the "best" part of their career after they reach their 60s.
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 10:00 AM ETViolent protests broke out in eight Brazilian cities last night, with the worst violence occurring in Rio de Janeiro. Thousands of protesters threw Molotov cocktails and anything else they could find. The protests began over a 10-cent increase in bus and subway fares.
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 11:05 AM ETFBI Deputy Director Sean Joyce describes how NSA surveillance helped to detect and thwart a plot to bomb the NYSE.