Stocks: Starting 2014 with another record?

U.S. stocks finished higher Tuesday, with the Dow and S&P closing out 2013 at record levels.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

U.S. stock futures were pointing up Thursday morning, with both the Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 up by roughly 0.3%.

Investors will be looking to the U.S. government Thursday morning as it is set to release its weekly report on initial jobless claims at 8:30 a.m. ET. At 10:00, the Institute for Supply Management will release its monthly manufacturing index, while the Census Bureau will release data on construction spending.

Shares in Fiat (FIADF) were rising by 13% in Milan, Italy, after the automaker announced Wednesday it was buying full control of Chrysler.

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U.S. stocks finished higher Tuesday -- the final trading day of 2013 -- with the Dow and S&P closing out 2013 with record highs. The Dow was up 26% and the S&P 500 gained more than 29% over 2013. The Nasdaq has surged nearly 40%, to highs not seen since 2000.

Markets were closed around the world Wednesday for the New Year's holiday.

Related: Which world markets will be hot in 2014?

European markets were all moving lower in morning trading, with Germany's Dax index declining by 0.6%.

Most Asian markets ended the day with small gains. The Shanghai Composite index moved up by 0.9%.