European Shares to Open Lower on Korean Jitters
European stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Tuesday, as investors were rattled by mounting tensions in the Korean peninsula.
The future of Ireland's coalition government will also continue to be in focus after the Green party in Ireland called for a national election in January in the wake of the agreement.
The bailout gave an initial boost to the European stock market Monday, but momentum quickly turned negative as investors continued to fret over the threat of contagion to other vulnerable countries.
Portugal's Prime Minister Jose Socrates said that the country doesn't need a bailout.
The cost of insuring Portuguese debt fell slightly Monday, but has seen strong gains in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Eurogroup chairman Jean-Claude Juncker gave his assurance that officials were determined to limit any contagion effect.
Spain will provide an immediate test of market appetite of euro zone bonds as it seeks to sell 3 to 4 billion euros worth of 3 and 6 month Treasury bills during the session.
In other news, investors will get more details of the euro zone's third-quarter gross domestic product growth.
And another day of strikes is planned in France against President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reform bill.
