The US stock market has traded around record levels again as investors were bolstered by good economic data.
US Home construction was better than expected last month and that news boosted housing stocks.
Figures from the Federal Reserve showed that manufacturing production expanded more than expected in November as a strike at General Motors ended.
Netflix shares rose after the streaming service said its Asia-Pacific business was growing.
Boeing shares turned positive after falling early on.
The plane maker plans to suspend production of its troubled 737 Max jet.
At the close, the Dow Jones index was up 0.1 per cent to 28,267.
The S&P 500 was only slightly higher at 3,193 and the Nasdaq rose 0.1 per cent to 8,823.
The pound fell more than 1 per cent after media reports that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had raised the risk of a no deal Brexit.
The reports said the UK Government would make it illegal for the post-Brexit transition to be extended.
That would leave just one year to make a trade deal with the European Union.
The pound traded at $US1.31 against the greenback, having given back its initial post-election gains.
The FTSE 100 index rose less than 0.1 per cent to 7,525.
In futures trade, the ASX SPI 200 index was down 0.2 per cent at 6,830.
Brent crude oil rose above $US66 a barrel on hopes about the US-China trade deal.
Spot gold was steady at $US1,476 an ounce.
The Australian dollar was being weighed down by the latest minutes from the Reserve Bank, which indicated there could be a rate cut in February.
It was buying around 68.5 US cents.
