Another Light Trading Day Ahead

U.S. markets are open for trading today, unlike major European markets. Most Asian markets were open, however, and in Japan investors shrugged off news that industrial output fell 8.1 percent and sent the Nikkei 225 up 1.6 percent. South Korea's main indicator fell 0.9 percent.

Wall Street appears headed to open up, though trading will be light. No government data are coming out today, but a report from a MasterCard Advisors unit showed that retail sales were down 5.5 percent in November and 8 percent in December through Christmas Eve.

--Terri Rupar