Global markets have had a mixed session overnight after reaching multi-year highs last week.

On Wall Street, there are concerns that earnings results will disappoint as the quarterly corporate reporting season continues.

Shares in market heavyweight Apple weighed on the S&P 500 index, falling 3.6 per cent to $US501.75 amid concerns about sales of its latest iPhone.

The technology giant has reportedly cut orders for parts to make the phone, due to weak demand.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.1 per cent higher, at 13,507, but the S&P 500 fell 0.1 per cent, to 1,471, slipping from a near five-year high.

The Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.3 per cent to 3,118.

In Europe, trade was also mixed as the main indices there also lost steam.

In London, the FTSE 100 slipped from a four-and-a-half-year high, down 0.2 per cent to 6,108, the DAX in Germany rose by 0.2 per cent, and the CAC 40 in France gained 2 points.

Domestically, futures trade is suggesting a flat start to the Australian session - the ASX SPI 200 index was just 1 point higher at 4,690.

In commodity trade, spot gold has risen to $US1,668 an ounce, and West Texas crude oil was slightly higher at $US93.70 a barrel.

In currency trade, the Australian dollar was higher against most of its major counterparts.

It remains at a more than four-year high against the yen after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly said the Bank of Japan should target employment as part of its mandate.

The yen has dropped sharply since Mr Abe came to power late last year, urging the central bank to be more aggressive in its policies to support Japan's weak economy.

Around 8:45am (AEDT), the dollar was buying 105.7 US cents, 79 euro cents, 94.5 Japanese yen, 65.7 British pence and $NZ1.254.