U.S. stock futures wobbled between gains and losses as global stocks rose ahead of what is expected to be a key speech on job creation by U.S. President Barack Obama.
Dow and S&P 500 futures were flat at 11,411 and 1,198.80, respectively, about two hours before U.S. markets opened.
Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.5 per cent, France's CAC 40 gained 0.6 per cent and Germany's DAX rose 0.7 per cent. Japan's Nikkei edged 0.3 per cent higher and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained just 0.1 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng bucked the trend with a 0.7 per cent loss.
Mr. Obama is due to speak at 7 p.m. (ET) to outline a jobs package worth more than $300-billlion (U.S.) to boost the sluggish economy. Weekly jobless claims figures are due to be released at 8:30 a.m., with economists in a Reuters survey forecasting a total of 405,000 new filings compared with 409,000 in the prior week.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will also be speaking, at 1:30 p.m., though investors don't expect any bold steps from the Fed.
Gold bounced back above $1,840 an ounce, with buyers enticed back into the market by a 3 per cent price slide in the previous session.
U.S. crude dipped 37 cents to $88.97 a barrel.
The Canadian dollar rose to $1.0167 (U.S.).