The major gauges have traded flat following Wednesday's pullback that ended multi-day rallies to start the year.

Major stock indexes finished mostly lower Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 reversing course after setting fresh all-time highs.

U.S. stock futures were mostly steady, but mixed, after December ADP report showed private sector added 41,000 jobs last month, a reversal from the loss of 29,000 in November but still slightly below the consensus of 48,

Asian stock markets slipped as US futures retreated on Venezuela oil tensions, while traders weighed Fed rate cut odds and upcoming US jobs data.

Stocks advanced further Tuesday, a day after major equities indexes ended sharply higher following the weekend capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

Stock futures play a central role in modern financial markets, offering investors a way to anticipate market direction, manage risk, and express

U.S. stock futures were mixed on Wednesday after a higher close on Tuesday. Futures of major benchmark indices were mixed. Investors are bracing for a heavy slate of economic releases, including the ADP employment report and ISM services index,

Dow Jones futures edged lower overnight, along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures.The stock market rally was mixed but generally lower Wednesday, fading in the afternoon. The Nasdaq rose but pared intraday gains while the other indexes fell.