European Markets
Technology stocks powered gains for European markets, as investors await earnings reports from blue-chip firms.
The FTSE 100 nudged ahead 0.1%.
The CAC 40 gained 0.2%, with banker Credit Lyonnais rising 2.2%.
The Xetra Dax added 0.8%, with chemical manufacturer Schering rebounding to gain 3%.
The SMI index in Zurich crept 0.2% higher.
The FTSE Eurotop 300 climbed 0.3%, with its oil and gas sector climbing 0.7% and the computer services sub-index gaining 0.8%.
Asian Markets
Asian markets headed lower as technology stocks deflated, following losses for U.S. technology shares. Increases for bank and industrial stocks partially offset losses.
The Nikkei closed down 0.2% as Internet and electronics companies led decliners. Mobile service provider NTT DoCoMo rose 1.4%.
The Hang Seng index fell 0.2%, with Pacific Century Cyber Works dropping 3.3%. Cheung Kong rose 1.1% and bank HSBC Holdings rose 0.4%.
The Straits Times fell 0.1%, while the S& P/ASX 200 index nudged up 0.4%.
In other Asian markets, the KOSPI lost 1.4%, but the Taiwan Weighted index in Taipei gained 3.7%, with Taiwan Semiconductor jumping 6.7%.
