Economic Outlook - European stocks are expected to open higher due to a weak ADP jobs report that supports the possibility of a Federal Reserve rate cut, alleviating concerns about Microsoft AI software demand [1] - The U.S. economic calendar is light, with a focus on weekly jobless claims data ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting next week [1] Market Performance - Japanese markets outperformed, with the Nikkei average rising nearly 2% as investors shifted from chip makers to robotics companies like Fanuc and Yaskawa [2] - U.S. stocks rose overnight, with the Dow increasing by 0.9%, the Nasdaq Composite up 0.2%, and the S&P 500 adding 0.3% [5] - European stocks ended mixed, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 gaining 0.1%, while the German DAX and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 both fell by 0.1% [5] Employment Data - The ADP report indicated a surprising decline in private sector employment by 32,000 in November, contrasting with an upwardly revised increase of 47,000 jobs in October, while economists had anticipated a rise of 10,000 jobs [4] - Separate data showed that U.S. services activity expanded at a slightly faster pace in November [4] Commodity Prices - Gold prices dipped below $4,200 per ounce, while oil prices increased following Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, indicating potential supply constraints [2]