European markets closed mixed on Wednesday, amid light trade across markets worldwide due to the holiday period. The pan-European STOXX 600 closed up 0.1 percent, with major bourses pointing in different directions. The FTSE 100 hit a record high during the session on Wednesday, and closed 0.34 percent higher.

A measure of Asian stocks flirted with a record high on Thursday in muted trading after a listless U.S. session overnight offered little direction ahead of New-Year holidays. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index of stocks was heading for a record close as of late-morning trading, after recouping losses that began in late November in one of several waves of profit taking seen in a standout year.

U.S. stocks eked out a positive close Wednesday, with gains in real estate and utilities offsetting declines in energy and telecommunications stocks.