Most Asian markets rose again Wednesday, tracking a record close on Wall Street, while the dollar held onto its gains against the yen on expectations of a US interest rate rise.

European and U.S. law officials arrested at least 178 people in an international swoop against so-called "money mules" who helped launder millions of dollars, EU agencies announced Tuesday.

Power-hungry Vietnam scrapped plans for two multi-billion dollar nuclear power plants on Tuesday, citing environmental and financial reasons after the cost of the projects skyrocketed. 

The Dow jumped above 19,000 in opening trade Tuesday for the first time as U.S. stocks continued to rally after Republicans swept the November 8 presidential and congressional elections.

The Dow got as high as 19,007.81 shortly after the opening bell. All three major U.S. stock indices closed at records Monday in anticipation of pro-growth policies under President-elect Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.

Ratings agency Fitch said Tuesday it would revise down its India growth forecasts for the fourth quarter of 2016 after the country's shock move to pull most of its currency out of circulation.

Fitch Ratings said the move, aimed at forcing Indians to declare their untaxed money, had created a cash crunch that "seems to be holding back economic activity", with consumers unable to make purchases, supply chains disrupted and farmers unable to buy seeds.

Britain on Wednesday delivers its first budget since the Brexit referendum, with economists expecting a slight shift away from years of austerity as the nation readies its EU exit strategy.

The Conservative government's finance minister Philip Hammond will deliver his so-called Autumn Statement before parliament around 1230 GMT Wednesday -- exactly five months after the Brexit vote.

U.S. stocks were trading higher early Monday at the start of a shortened holiday week, as investors await news on key appointments from the incoming presidential administration.

A half-hour into trading session, the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.3 percent higher at 18,922.86. The broader S&P 500 rose 0.5 percent to 2,192.87 and the Nasdaq gained 0.7 percent to 5,359.42.

Prime Minister Theresa May sought to reassure business leaders nervous about the "cliff-edge scenario" of Britain leaving the EU on Monday, as she announced a boost in research investment.

Facebook on Monday became the latest US tech giant to announce new investment in Britain with hundreds of extra jobs but hinted its success depended on skilled migration after Britain leaves the European Union.

The premier social network underlined London's status as a global technology hub at a British company bosses' summit where Prime Minister Theresa May sought to allay business concerns about Brexit.

Top European stock indices rose at the start of trading on Monday, reversing some of Friday's losses, as Tokyo equities showed gains on the back of a weaker yen.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 climbed 0.1 percent to 10,670.97 compared with Friday's close, while the Paris CAC 40 was also 0.1 percent up at 4,507.82 around 0830 GMT.