Stock market today: World stocks mostly advance in quiet Christmas Eve trading

Global markets are mostly higher, with Chinese markets logging gains of more than 1%. U.S. futures were little changed in quiet Christmas Eve trading and oil prices rose. Honda's shares surged 12.2% as the Japanese automaker announced an up to 1.1 trillion yen ($7 billion) share buyback after it announced Monday that it was seeking a merger with its larger but troubled rival Nissan. On Monday, the S&P 500 rose 0.7%, with gains led by big technology companies including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. U.S. markets will close at 1 p.m. Eastern time for Christmas Eve and stay closed Wednesday for Christmas.