U.S. stock futures edged up and European indexes advanced after the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished its best week in months to close at a record.

S&P 500 futures were up 0.1% and Dow futures gained 0.3%. Changes in equity futures don't necessarily predict market moves after the markets open.

In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 added 0.4% in morning trade, and is at its highest level in a year. Consumer staples and information technology sectors led gains while healthcare and real-estate sectors lost ground.

The U.K.'s FTSE 100 climbed 0.2%. Other stock indexes in Europe also mostly climbed as France's CAC 40 rose 0.4%, U.K.'s FTSE 250 gained 0.5%, and Germany's DAX traded flat and rose 0.1%.

The Swiss franc was mostly flat against the U.S. dollar, with 1 franc buying $1.08. The euro was down 0.2% against the U.S. dollar, with 1 euro buying $1.19. The British pound was up 0.1% against the dollar, with 1 pound buying $1.39.

In commodities, Brent crude strengthened 1% to $69.93 a barrel. Gold also strengthened 0.3% to $1,724.10 a troy ounce.

The yield on German 10-year bunds slipped to minus 0.320%and the 10-year U.K. government debt known as gilts yield declined to 0.813%. The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury slipped to 1.625% from 1.634% on Friday. Yields move inversely to prices.

Indexes in Asia were mixed as Hong Kong's Hang Seng was mostly flat after climbing 1.5% earlier and Japan's Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.2%, whereas China's benchmark Shanghai Composite was down 1%.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-15-21 0450ET