Asian shares rose on Tuesday as recent selling drew bargain hunters ahead of more U.S. economic data and a Federal Reserve policy decision later in the week.
European equities touched fresh multi-month peaks on Monday, with technical charts pointing to a continued slow grind higher.
Japan's Nikkei breached the 11,0000 mark briefly as the yen continued to weaken.
U.S. stock index futures were higher Friday, a day after the S&P 500 logged its seventh-straight rally, following a batch up upbeat earnings reports and ahead of a key housing report.
European shares were flat on Friday as talks over the "fiscal cliff" stalled.