Back in Asia, futures tipped a lower open for Japanese equities. Nikkei futures traded in Chicago were off 0.27 percent at 20,090 and Osaka futures were lower by 0.42 percent at 20,060. Those compared to the Nikkei 225’s Thursday close of 20,144.59.
Australian SPI futures were down 1.27 percent at 5,688 compared to the S&P/ASX 200’s last close of 5,761.453.
On Wall Street, major indexes closed mixed after hitting record levels earlier in the trading session.
The Dow Jones industrial average edged down 0.13 percent, or 28.97 points, to close at 21,611.8 and the S&P 500 closed lower by 0.02 percent, or 0.38 points, at 2,473.45. The Nasdaq bucked the trend to close above the flat line. The tech-heavy index rose 0.08 percent, or 4.96 points, to finish at 6,390.
In currencies, the Australian dollar last traded against the dollar at $0.7949. The Aussie dollar gained following an employment report released Thursday, but later pared back those gains. Currency markets are expected to keep an eye on a speech by Reserve Bank of Australia Deputy Governor Guy Debelle later in the day.
On the energy front, oil prices were lower on concerns over crude supplies. Brent crude was down 40 cents to settle at $49.30 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled 33 cents lower at $46.79.
