Asian shares took a breather from recent rallies on Thursday though sentiment was underpinned by the U.S. Federal Reserve's pledge to retain its stimulus policy and on signs of stabilization in the euro zone.
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wednesday, with eyes on the Federal Reserve’s first policy statement of 2013.
European shares suffered their biggest daily drop this month after gloomy earnings and weak U.S. economic data hit sentiment on Wednesday and left some positioning for further falls in the near-term.
Asian stocks closed higher on Wednesday, with investors shifting their focus to corporate earnings in the region and the Federal Reserve's policy announcement later in the day.
Stocks took a breather after an eight day run, but the bull isn't ready to give up yet. The S&P 500 lost 2 points Monday to end at the psychologically important 1500 level, in its first decline in eight days. The Dow lost 14, to 13,881, its first drop in six days. The Nasdaq, meanwhile, closed higher, up 4 at 3154, as Apple gained more than 2 percent after last week's steep decline.
European shares were flat on Friday as talks over the "fiscal cliff" stalled.