Global stock markets mixed ahead of earnings reports

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Global stock markets were mixed on Tuesday as investors awaited corporate earnings results at home and abroad while oil prices climbed higher.

"U.S. company reporting is a key factor this week," said Michael McCarthy of CMC Markets, noting Monday's report by aluminum mining giant Alcoa's better than expected first-quarter earnings.

While some bemoan the "jobless recovery" and weaker revenues, "In the meantime, investors who are not subscribers to the 'perfect world' theory of markets got on with buying Alcoa," he said in a commentary.

Apart from Alcoa, later this week big U.S. banks will start releasing results, including JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Wells Fargo, though expectations are low for this earnings season.