Global markets mixed; Nikkei surges 6%
U.S. futures, European shares little changed as race for White House nears end.
LONDON (CNNMoney.com) -- Global stock indexes were mixed Tuesday as the race for the White House neared an end.
U.S. futures, which give an indication of how markets may open when trading begins in New York, were slightly higher.
European markets were little changed in the early going. Britain's FTSE 100 was slightly lower in morning trading. The CAC-40 in Paris and Germany's DAX were both a shade higher.
Asian markets mostly advanced, with Japan's benchmark Nikkei index rallying 6.3%. Tokyo markets were closed Monday for a holiday.
Elsewhere in the region, Seoul's KOSPI was up 2.2% by mid-afternoon. Australia's All Ordinaries, Taipei's Taiwan Weighted and the Straits Times index in Singapore all were down less than 1% while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong ended just a few points higher.
Investors around the world are waiting to see the outcome in the race between U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and his Republican rival John McCain.
Markets in the U.S. were in a holding pattern on Monday. The Dow Jones industrial average lost a few points. The Standard & Poor's 500 index slipped 0.3% and the Nasdaq composite added 0.3%.
Analysts say investors will be glad to have the election over and to know that a change in administration is coming, regardless of whether McCain or Obama wins.
The financial crisis has taken center stage in the race, with the economy topping the list of issues most important to American voters.
CNN Wires contributed to this report. 
