Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 24-12-2014.

U.S. stock-index futures were little changed after a five-day rally in equities that sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average above 18,000 for the first time.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,854.23 +219.09 +1.24%

Shanghai Composite 2,973.76 -58.85 -1.94%

FTSE 6,609.93 +11.75 +0.18%

CAC 4,295.85 -19.12 -0.44%

Crude oil $55.94 (-2.08%)

Gold $1175.00 (-0.29%)

(company / ticker / price / change, % / volume)

European indices were little changed in quiet trading after a six-day rally driven by a rebound in energy shares, the FED's "patient" approach to raising interest rates and the U.S. economy expanding more than anticipated.

In today's session the FTSE 100 index added +0.07% quoted at 6,603.05 points extending its gains for a seventh day, whereas France's CAC 40 lost -0.37% in shortened trading quoted at 4,299.12. In Germany bourses are closed today. Yesterday the DAX30 added +0.57% closing at 9,922.11 points. The London Stock Exchange will close at 12:30 GMT; Euronext will close at 13:05 GMT half an hour later.

European indices trade mixed in a shortened session amid a global end-of-year rally with U.S. indices closing at record highs on better-than-expected U.S. GDP data. The London Stock Exchange will close at 12:30 GMT today; Euronext will close at 13:05 GMT. The DAX 30 is closed for the whole day. In the U.S. Initial Jobless Claims are due at 13:30 GMT.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.23% quoted at 6,613.05 points, France's CAC 40 lost -0.22%, currently trading at 4,305.42 points in thin holiday trading conditions.

U.S. markets closed higher on Tuesday for a fifth consecutive session on a solid set of U.S. data published yesterday. The DOW JONES added +0.36% closing at 18,024.17 above 18,000 points for the first time ever. The S&P 500 added +0.17% with a final quote of 2,082.17 closing at new records too after the unexpectedly strong report on economic growth.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng was almost flat at +0.07% closing at 23,349.34 points. China's Shanghai Composite closed at 2,973.76 points, a slump of -1.94%.

Japan's Nikkei , after being closed on Tuesday due to a holiday, rose to 17,854.23 points, a plus of +1.24%. It was the fifth straight day of gains. Exporter stocks rose on the weakening yen and solid U.S. data.

Tomorrow financial markets in the U.S., Europe and most of Asia - Japan and mainland China will be open - will be closed for Christmas holiday.

(index / closing price / change items /% change)

S&P/ASX 200 5,380.92 -61.03 -1.12%

SHANGHAI COMP 3,035.01 -92.44 -2.96%

HANG SENG 23,326.73 -81.84 -0.35%

FTSE 100 6,598.18 +21.44 +0.33%

CAC 40 4,314.97 +60.54 +1.42%

Xetra DAX 9,922.11 +56.35 +0.57%

S&P 500 2,082.17 +3.63 +0.17%

NASDAQ Composite 4,765.42 -16.00 -0.33%

Dow Jones 18,024.17 +64.73 +0.36%