The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged higher on Monday, pushed by a bounce back in industrials, while the technology-led gains in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were kept in check by declines in healthcare stocks.

Meanwhile, Chinese iron ore futures shed early losses, and rallied more than 1 percent on Monday, as steel prices recovered after a three-day slide.

The local share price index futures rose 0.4 percent or 22 points, a 37.3-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark fell 0.2 percent on Monday.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.1 percent or 5.980 points to 8,083.820 in early trade.