European shares are set to open slightly lower on Friday weighed by record crude prices, although oil-related stocks should receive a boost.
The dollar held its own ahead of Tuesday's Federal Reserve policy meeting and U.S. Treasuries were supported by investors seeking a safe haven in the face of rising risks in corporate bonds.
Financial bookmakers in London expect Britain's FTSE 100 to open around 2 points higher, Germany's Xetra DAX to trade between down 7 and up 1 point and France's CAC-40 down around 8 points.
European shares ended little changed on Thursday with the FTSEurofirst 300 index up 0.1 percent at 1,079.6 points.
U.S. blue-chip stocks fell on Thursday weighed by big losses to AIG while the broader S&P 500 rose as record oil prices lifted energy stocks.
Tokyo's Nikkei average rose 0.9 percent to its highest close in nearly a year.
Other Asian stock markets such as Kospi , Hang Seng , and Straits Times index were all mostly firmer led by resource stocks.
The dollar was steady, holding on to the previous session's gains, as investors looked to Tuesday's Federal Reserve policy meeting for clues to the next rate move.
Government bond prices were firm as investors frightened by a deteriorating corporate credit outlook bought sought a safe haven.
Oil prices held just over $1 below record highs at around $56.43 on profit-taking.
Spot gold prices edged up the latest dollar gains capped the move up and prevented the yellow metal from rising back above $440 a troy ounce.