U.S. stock index futures were slightly lower Wednesday, after the Dow and S&P 500 hit record highs in the previous session, and as investors largely shrugged off a better-than-expected trade data from China.
Most Asian stock markets closed in positive territory on Monday with a weaker yen propelling Japan's benchmark Nikkei index to a fresh five-and-a-half-year peak, while the Shanghai Composite pared losses following a raft of lower-than-expected economic data from the mainland.
European shares were flat on Friday as talks over the "fiscal cliff" stalled.