• The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 88.69 points, or 0.34 percent, to 25,733.6, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 1.14 points, or 0.04 percent, to 2,861.82 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 29.92 points, or 0.38 percent, to 7,889.10.

U.S. stocks were mixed on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq gaining on the strength of tech stocks while the S&P 500 was little changed as it marked its longest bull-market run.

• Asia markets opened cautiously as investors look to the trade talks between Beijing and Washington, and the new U.S. tariffs on $16 billion of Chinese imports are set to take effect later Thursday.

Wall Street closed the Wednesday session with the Nasdaq higher and the S&P 500 a touch lower after marking its longest bull run.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 traded in positive territory in early trade at 0.37 percent up. South Korea's KOSPI also rose by 0.26 percent.

• Citi said in a global economic and outlook strategy report titled “Storm Squalls” that divergence in trade tensions between the United States and its various trading partners is likely to be a key driver for markets.

“Trade tensions have narrowed to U.S. vs China; however, there is no such thing as a bilateral trade war,” it added.

“Despite recent signs that trade talks are resuming, we expect U.S.-China trade tensions to continue.”

Reference: Reuters, CNBC