Energy Price Relief Feeds Through into Higher Stocks

Cash markets across Europe trade higher, with outperformance noted in Germany's DAX, benefiting from the drop in energy prices since the beginning of the week. Europe's tech and consumer discretionary sectors are the strongest so far, mirrored in higher US futures - indicating a positive open on Wall Street later today.

• Japan's NIKKEI 225 closed up 316.62 pts or +1.14% at 28195.58 and the TOPIX ended 24.28 pts higher or +1.25% at 1968.38.
• China's SHANGHAI closed down 13.508 pts or -0.42% at 3227.22 and the HANG SENG ended 74.19 pts lower or -0.37% at 19949.03.with the German DAX up 188.18 pts or +1.46% at 13081.28, FTSE 100 up 41.21 pts or +0.55% at 7467.53, CAC 40 up 68.59 pts or +1.1% at 6291.67 and Euro Stoxx 50 up 49.46 pts or +1.39% at 3620.55.
• Dow Jones mini up 244 pts or +0.76% at 32320, S&P 500 mini up 34.25 pts or +0.85% at 4070.5, NASDAQ mini up 143 pts or +1.14% at 12635.