REUTERS/Toru Hanai
A couple kisses in front of a stock quotation board displaying Japan's Nikkei average outside a brokerage in Tokyo December 25, 2013. Japan's Nikkei share average hit a six-year closing high on Wednesday, supported by optimism over the global economy and hopes for fresh buying by Japanese retail investors due to upcoming tax changes.
China's Shanghai Composite, however, tumbled 1.6% to 2,073 as investors continue to be nervous about potential credit market problems.
European markets are closed for Boxing Day.
U.S. markets will be open today. Futures will begin trading at 6:00 a.m. ET.
Later today, we'll get the latest weekly tally of U.S. initial jobless claims. Economists estimate claims fell to 347,000 from 379,000 a week ago. "Initial jobless claims likely fell back after two weeks of elevated readings," said Citi's D'Antonio. "But the four-week moving average continued to rise. The number of beneficiaries probably remained high given the surge in first filings of late."