1. Global market overview

U.S. stock futures are looking a bit soft following the long Christmas weekend.

European markets are mostly rising in early trading. Asian markets are closing out the day with mixed results.

The Dow Jones industrial average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all posted modest gains last week and are sitting near record highs.

Meanwhile, crude oil futures are trading near the highest level of the year, just above $53 per barrel.

The USD edged slightly higher against other major currencies after the long Christmas weekend on Tuesday, holding near the strongest level since December 2002 as the market entered the last trading stretch of the year.

Trading activity is likely to stay subdued as many investors already closed books before the end of the year, reducing liquidity in the market.

2. Economics

The Case-Shiller home price index for October will be released at 14:00 GMT, giving insight into the state of the U.S. housing market.

The Conference Board is releasing its Consumer Confidence data for December at 15:00 GMT.

On Wednesday - National Association of Realtors releases pending home sales data for November.

On Thursday - The U.S. Department of Labor releases weekly jobless claims data.

On Friday - U.S. bond market set to close at 19:00 GMT.

3. Toshiba shares plunge

Shares in Toshiba dropped 12% in Japan on Tuesday after the company warned it's expecting 1 billion dollars in losses related to its takeover of a nuclear business last year.

The losses come as Toshiba recovers from an accounting scandal that was discovered in April 2015. The company was found to be overstating profits for years.

4. Italian bank works on bailout

The world's oldest operating bank - Monte dei Paschi - continues to work on securing a bailout from the Italian government.

But it will need more cash than previously thought. The bank disclosed late Monday that the European Central Bank has said €8.8 billion will be required to fill the hole in its finances.

The central bank also warned that Monte dei Paschi's financial position has deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks. Trading in Monte dei Paschi shares has been suspended since Friday.