European markets set to open flat to higher as 2025 draws to a close

Group 1: European Market Performance - The pan-European Stoxx 600 index increased by 0.4% to surpass 590 points, marking a new record [1] - European stocks gained momentum, particularly in a holiday-shortened trading week [1] - Mining stocks led the blue-chip index, with Fresnillo rising by 5.3%, while peers Anglo American, Antofagasta, and Glencore saw increases between 2.3% and 2% [1] Group 2: Precious Metals Market - Gold futures rose by 1.4%, trading at $4,403.10 per ounce, while silver surged by 5.6% to $74.42 per ounce [2] - Silver experienced volatility, reaching a record high before experiencing its worst day since 2021 [2] Group 3: Defense Sector Performance - Defense stocks rebounded by midday Tuesday, with Renk and Rheinmetall each rising about 2%, and year-to-date gains approaching 200% [3] - The sector faced initial losses due to peace talks between President Trump and President Zelenskyy, but showed recovery as discussions continued [3] Group 4: Asia-Pacific Market Trends - Asia-Pacific markets mostly declined following a tech sell-off on Wall Street, driven by concerns over an AI bubble [4] - Notable declines were observed in major tech stocks, including Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, Meta Platforms, and Oracle [4] - U.S. stocks were slightly lower in premarket trading, with minimal movements from big tech names [4]