International equity markets finished with mixed results overnight as better-than-forecast earnings results in the US were weighed against uncertainty in the eurozone.

In the euro region, concerns mounted after it was reported that Italy's former Prime Minister, Mr. Silvio Berlusconi, is leading the election polls on the back of his campaign to slash taxes and levies on first homes.

In London the UK's FTSE climbed 13 points (+0.2%) to settle at 6295 whilst Germany's DAX slashed 83 points (-1.1%) to settle at 7581. France's CAC declined 52 points (-1.4%) to settle at 3643.

In the US, the Dow Jones added seven points (+0.1%) to settle at 13987 whilst the S&P increased one point (+0.1%) to settle at 1512. The Nasdaq declined three points (-0.1%) to settle at 3168.

In the commodity space, oil was little changed after the Energy Information Administration said that supplies declined by 315,000 at Cushing, Oklahoma-the country's largest crude storage and delivery centre-in the past week. Crude oil for March delivery declined two cents to settle at $96.62 per barrel.

Gold traded higher just before the ECB holds its policy meeting this week and after it was reported that China's year-on-year gold imports rose to 114.4 metric tons in December. Gold futures for April delivery climbed $5.30 to settle at $1,678.80 per ounce.

In the currency space, the Japanese yen finished lower against the US dollar due to expectations that Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe, will choose a BoJ governor who will implement policies in line with his initiatives to end deflation.

Elsewhere, the euro fell against the US dollar ahead of the ECB's policy meeting to address the political uncertainties and financial issues surrounding the euro region.

Today will see the release of the following economic data: employment change (11:30am, AEDT), unemployment rate (11:30am, AEDT), and the NAB quarterly business confidence (11:30am, AEDT).

Morning Market Update: Mixed Results Overnight is a post from: Australian Stock Report Market Pulse Blog