Shares in Europe rose for the second straight day, lifted by strong gains among oil majors and a rebound among selected banks.

Asian markets finished mostly higher as tech stocks tracked gains in their U.S. counterparts and a weaker yen lifted exporters in Tokyo. The Nikkei rose 1.9%.

Markets in Europe gained sharply as energy plays and merger activity invigorated investors. Asian markets were mixed, and in the Americas were up. Spyker Cars leapt 20% on a new offer for Saab.

Asian stock markets ended mixed Monday in subdued holiday-thinned trade. Japan's Nikkei finished up 0.4%.

Asia has led the world out of the global economic downturn thanks in part to a welcome burst of consumer consumption. It appears the spending spree will continue into 2010.

Developers slumped on Beijing's latest steps to curtail rising property prices. China's Shanghai Composite slid 2.1%.

European shares on Friday failed to hold early gains, closing lower on concerns over the need for fund raising by banks.

Anxiety about debt-burdened euro-zone nations escalated, pummeling the euro and the pound amid protests in Greece and disappointing retail sales in the U.K.

European currencies tumbled on continuing credit concerns over Greece and shocking economic data in the U.K. European stocks also retreated along with oil and gold.

The euro slumped to its lowest level against the dollar in three months, and Greece's bond market continued sliding as investors demanded higher premiums for buying Greek government bonds.

Most Asian markets ended lower, with worries about a surge in supply of new shares and their impact on liquidity dragging Shanghai and Hong Kong lower.

The Middle East's largest sovereign wealth fund is demanding that Citigroup scrap a deal that would see the fund take a heavy loss on a $7.5 billion investment in the bank.