Shares are mixed in Asia, with Tokyo's Nikkei 225 trading near record high levels after Japan's Cabinet approved a record defense budget plan exceeding $58 billion for the coming fiscal year. The prices of gold and silver surged to record highs. U.S. futures were marginally lower and the dollar rose against the Japanese yen. Oil prices edged higher. Markets in Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia were closed. Wall Street will reopen to a full day of trading on Friday after the Christmas holidays, but volumes will likely remain light since most investors have closed out their positions for the year.
