Australian stocks gained, while Japanese equities slipped and Hong Kong equity futures signaled declines. US futures rose after the S&P 500 notched up a sixth straight weekly increase, its longest winning streak this year following a slew of corporate results and signs the world’s largest economy remains robust.
European shares close at record high driven by defence stocks
European stocks hit a record high Friday, buoyed by defence and insurance sectors, ending the year on an optimistic note. The STOXX 600 index saw