Most global stocks rose as Germany threw its weight behind a stronger European bailout fund, which investors took as a signal that the region's sovereign debt crisis is not deepening further.
Dow stock futures gained 90 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 11,066, while S&P 500 futures rose 9.8 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 1,158.50. France's CAC 40 rose 0.6 per cent, while Germany's DAX edged 0.5 per cent higher. Japan's Nikkei gained 1 per cent. Britain's FTSE fell 0.4 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.7 per cent.
Germany's parliament approved with a large majority new powers for the euro zone's rescue fund, offering some relief from concerns that deep political divisions are hampering efforts to end the region's debt crisis. Germany is the biggest economy among the 17 countries that use the euro and has to contribute more than others to enhance the bailout fund.
The euro gained 0.6 per cent to around $1.3630 (U.S.), having risen to as high as $1.3678 on the news that the bill was passed.
Talks between the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and Greece on the next aid tranche on Thursday will see if Athens has done enough to avoid running out of cash.
Gold slipped 0.3 per cent to $1,617.80 an ounce.
U.S. crude oil rose 0.7 per cent to $81.87 a barrel.
The Canadian dollar fell to 96.94 cents (U.S.).