What you need to know before the open – 27/12
European markets are expected to gain momentum from US markets this morning.
The Dow Jones has now seen six record highs in six days, but the very thin trading volumes have failed to carry over into the Asian trading session.
ETX Capital #morningcall: FTSE100 up 5 points, the DAX higher by 5 and the CAC40 up by 10 points.
— ETX Capital (@ETXCapital) December 27, 2013
Japan's Nikkei is up fractionally, by 0.03 per cent, on stronger than expected data. That's alongside some end of year profit taking.
The turbo boosted Nikkei is on track for its best annual performance since 1972, on the economic policies of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
There are no significant economic events scheduled for today.