European shares softened and euro zone bond yields edged lower on Tuesday, while crude oil prices weakened on Tuesday as traders looked bearishly at milder U.S. weather conditions.
The dollar edged up to the top of recent ranges as dealers closed off their short positions in the greenback ahead of the Christmas holidays. Overall dealing volumes were low ahead of the year-end.
In Europe, shares in Swiss banking giant UBS fell 0.47 percent to 95.65 Swiss francs after it said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had told it that it might take legal steps for alleged breaches of securities laws.
Elswhere, stock market gainers included Swatch, the world's biggest watchmaker, and the world's second-biggest luxury watch luxury group group Richemont, which gained after Swiss watch exports posted a record high in November.
Crude oil futures deepened the week's losses, with traders citing milder weather conditions in the world's biggest economy as a factor.
"The market is just watching the weather," one trader said.
London IPE front-month February Brent shed 25 cents a barrel to 42.18, while New NYMEX front month February crude fell 33 cents to 45.45 a barrel in electronic ACCESS trade.
Oil prices had fallen on Monday following warmer-than-expected U.S. weather.