Global stocks have pared weakness seen.....>

EQUITIES: Global stocks have pared weakness seen earlier in the session, though

U.S. equities continue to outperform even after last week's stellar performance.

- Asian stocks closed mixed, with Japan's NIKKEI up 314.37 pts or +1.38% at

23178.1 and the TOPIX up 18.24 pts or +1.13% at 1630.72. China's SHANGHAI closed

up 6.972 pts or +0.24% at 2937.771 and the HANG SENG ended 19.55 pts lower or

-0.08% at 24776.77.

- European equities are mixed too, with the German Dax down 18.58 pts or -0.14%

at 12829.85, FTSE 100 up 16.96 pts or +0.26% at 6501.18, CAC 40 down 42.97 pts

or -0.83% at 5192.22 and Euro Stoxx 50 down 20.54 pts or -0.61% at 3377.7.

- But U.S. stock futures are higher: Dow Jones mini up 185 pts or +0.68% at

27258, S&P 500 mini up 16.75 pts or +0.53% at 3203.5, NASDAQ mini up 23.25 pts

or +0.24% at 9831.