• The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 42.18 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 20,659.32, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 2.56 points, or 0.11 percent, to 2,361.13 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 22.41 points, or0.38 percent, to 5,897.55.
The benchmark S&P 500 eked out a gain on Wednesday as strength in the energy and consumer sectors offset declines in financial shares and investors began looking ahead to first-quarter earnings season.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended slightly lower, falling for the ninth session out of the past 10, while the Nasdaq rose for a fourth straight day.
• Asian shares edged up to near their highest in two years on Thursday, while the dollar benefited from waning expectations that the European Central Bank was poised to end its easy policy.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was 0.2 percent higher in early trade, pushing against its loftiest levels since June 2015.
• Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.27 percent in early trade, likely due to prolonged yen strength. The yen is seen as a safe-haven currency, but a stronger yen is generally negative for many Japanese companies as export earnings are reduced.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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