European Shares May Open On Firm Note As Investors Eye ECB Minutes

Australian consumer confidence declined notably in September and remained in a 'cautiously pessimistic' territory, survey results from Westpac showed on Tuesday. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index declined 3.1 percent to 95.4 in September from 98.5 in August. The third 25 basis-point interest rate cut from the Reserve Bank of Australia had boosted sentiment in August.

European stocks are likely to open a tad lower on Tuesday, with French politics and upcoming U.S. inflation readings likely to be in the spotlight.

Indian shares opened on a positive note on Tuesday, tracking mostly positive cues from global markets amid optimism around a potential Federal Reserve rate cut next week.

The Australian stock market is extending its early losses in mid-market trading on Tuesday, adding to the losses in the previous session, despite the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is falling below the 8,800 level, with weakness in iron ore miners, financial and energy stocks partially offset by gains in gold miners.

Asian stock markets are trading mixed on Tuesday, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight, as traders remain optimistic about the outlook for interest rates following last week's weaker-than-expected US jobs data. They also remain cautious ahead of key U.S. inflation readings due later in the week that could influence the US Fed's rate trajectory.

Indian shares look set to open higher on Tuesday, even as volatility cannot be ruled out amid talk of more sanctions against Russia and ahead of key U.S. inflation readings due this week that could influence the Federal Reserve's rate trajectory.

The Thai stock market has moved higher in back-to-back sessions, adding almost 15 points or 1.2 percent along the way. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now sits just above the 1,265-point plateau and it may extend its winning streak again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is upbeat on optimism over the outlook for interest rates. The European and U.S. markets were modestly higher and the Asian bourses are expected to follow that lead. The SET finished slightly higher on Monday following gains from the food, consumer, finance, industrial, property and service sectors. For the day, the index was up 1.31 points or 0.10 percent to finish at 1,266.11 after trading between 1,264.79 and 1,276.15. Volume was 10.729 billion shares worth 54.546 billion baht. There were 278 gainers and 195 decliners, with 182 stocks finishing unchanged. Among the actives, Advanced Info skidded 1.02 percent, while Thailand Airport tumbled 1.95 percent, Banpu fell 0.40 percent, Bangkok Bank collected 0.66 percent, Bangkok Dusit Medical sank 0.95 percent, Bangkok Expressway soared 4.76 percent, B. Grimm retreated 1.54 percent, BTS Group rallied 4.24 percent, CP All Public jumped 1.58 percent, CP Axtra skyrocketed 14.14 percent, Charoen Pokphand Foods surged 4.44 percent, Energy Absolute stumbled 2.84 percent, Gulf plummeted 4.74 percent, Kasikornbank climbed 1.18 percent, Krung Thai Bank advanced 0.99 percent, Krung Thai Card dropped 0.85 percent, PTT Oil & Retail strengthened 1.39 percent, PTT improved 0.79 percent, PTT Global Chemical slumped 0.90 percent, SCG Packaging added 0.56 percent, Siam Commercial Bank shed 0.40 percent, Siam Concrete spiked 2.28 percent, TTB Bank skidded 1.05 percent and Asset World, True Corporation, PTT Exploration and Production and Thai Oil were unchanged.

The Japanese stock market is trading significantly higher on Tuesday, extending the gains in the previous three sessions, despite the broadly positive cues from Wall Street overnight. The Nikkei 225 is moving above the 44,100 level to record all-time highs, after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation, with gains across most sectors led by exporters and technology stocks.