Overnight: US stocks nudged higher, showing relatively muted action after Friday's big gains, as investors waited on speeches from three Federal Reserve...

Overnight: US stocks nudged higher, showing relatively muted action after Friday's big gains, as investors waited on speeches from three Federal Reserve officials that could provide policy clues. Treasury bonds have posted modest gains as investors consider whether the strong November jobs report may push the Federal Reserve to scale back its bond-buying program later this month. Gold edged higher, regaining some of the ground it lost last week when signs of improving U.S. economic growth kept prices in the red. Oil futures nosed higher, helped by Chinese data out over the weekend showing a strong gain in petroleum imports. The UK's FTSE was little changed as mining firms pulled it lower while insurance firms moved mostly higher. European stock markets traded mixed. London BHP down 0.05%. Rio down 0.24%. New York BHP down 0.44%. Rio up 0.15% LME Base metals pushed higher across the complex.