Europe's equity markets are trading higher, helped by a busy year-end for corporate deal making and further signs that Italy is making progress on shoring up its weak banking sector. However, business is taking place against an uncertain backdrop, underscored by the assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey and the murder of 12 people at a Christmas market in Berlin which police have described as a "probable terrorist attack". Concerns about Greece have also emerged on the financial radar after the US credit ratings agency Moody's said the country is about to enter a troubling new phase in its seven year old debt crisis.
For more analysis, Share Radio's Juliette Foster was joined on the line by Jasper Lawlor, senior market analyst at London Capital Group.
