US and European markets enjoyed positive sessions overnight, clawing back some of the losses booked late last week.

In Europe the FTSE added 1.1%, as did the CAC, whilst the DAX endured a 0.1% decline.

Stateside, the Dow was ahead as much as 150 points at one stage but peeled lower to end 37 points (+0.3%) in the green.

The broader S&P finished largely unchanged whilst the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.2%.

A late-session slump in Goldman Sachs wiped out much of the gains recorded up to that point, with the stock falling 4.7% to its lowest price March 2009 after CEO Lloyd Blankfein hired an attorney in relation to a probe of matters raised by the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

This morning gold has rallied to a new record high above US$1900 an ounce amid mounting concerns that the global economy is faltering.

Gold futures for December delivery gained as much as 1.4% after the New York close, to US$1917.90 an ounce.

Oil also bounced back from recent weakness, adding more than 2% to settle at US$84.42 a barrel.

There is no major local data due out for today's session, although we will hear from RBA Deputy Governor Battellino, commencing at 2:00pm, AEST.