(RTTNews) - Stock markets across Europe are forecast to start the week with little direction on Monday after positive talks between the U.S. and Iran in Switzerland. Declining oil prices have lifted worldwide risk appetite, yet concerns about Federal Reserve rate hikes have driven global bond yields higher and may restrict any stock market advances. Political developments in the U.K. are also expected to affect investor mood.

Wall Street finished Thursday on a strong note, supported by optimism around the U.S.-Iran agreement and gains in technology shares that outweighed worries about a more hawkish Fed. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.9 percent to end at 26,517.93. The S&P 500 rose 1.1 percent to close at 7,500.58. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.14 percent to finish at 51,564.70. Markets remained closed on Friday for the holiday.

Major European indices closed mostly lower on Friday amid mixed signals on the U.S.-Iran talks and renewed tensions between Israel and Lebanon. France's CAC 40 fell 0.55 percent to 8,421.14. The Stoxx-50 slipped 0.48 percent to 6,293.13. The FTSE 100 declined 0.35 percent to 10,363.27. Germany's DAX dropped 0.16 percent to 24,985.82. Switzerland's SMI edged up 0.06 percent to 13,774.02.

European stock futures point to mixed trading at the open. FTSE 100 Futures (Sep) are 0.39 percent higher. Stoxx 50 Futures (Sep) are 0.11 percent lower. CAC 40 Futures (Jul) are 0.06 percent lower. DAX Futures (Sep) are 0.03 percent higher. SMI Futures (Sep) are 0.17 percent higher.

U.S. stock futures are trading slightly lower. The US 30 (DJIA) is down 0.08 percent, while the US500 (S&P 500) is 0.21 percent below the flat line.

Asian markets are mixed amid progress in the U.S.-Iran talks. Japan's Nikkei 225 has risen 1.9 percent. China's Shanghai Composite has gained more than 1 percent. India's Nifty 50 is 0.55 percent higher. South Korea's KOSPI has added 0.28 percent. Australia's S&P ASX 200 is down 0.07 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng has slipped 0.84 percent. DJ New Zealand has fallen 0.88 percent.

The Fed's hawkish stance has bolstered the dollar. The Dollar Index is trading at 100.88, up 0.03 percent from the prior close of 100.85.

The EUR/USD pair has eased 0.13 percent to 1.1454, while GBP/USD has dropped 0.19 percent to 1.3209. USD/CHF has risen 0.17 percent to 0.8085. EUR/GBP is 0.06 percent higher at 0.8672. EUR/JPY has gained 0.11 percent to 185.21, and GBP/JPY is up 0.05 percent to 213.58.

Progress in the U.S.-Iran talks has lifted gold prices. August gold futures have increased 0.94 percent to $4,212.17 from the prior close of $4,172.90.

Both crude benchmarks have declined on the back of the talks. September Brent Crude is at $78.53, down about 1.9 percent from $80.05. August WTI Crude is at $75.15, more than 0.92 percent below $75.85.

Flash consumer confidence data for June is due from the Euro Area. Earnings updates expected include reports from 3I Infrastructure, Finnair Oyj, Oeneo and NextEnergy Solar Fund.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.