- As investors argued over whether inflation had subsided enough to persuade the federal reserve to suspend monetary tightening, US equity-index futures wavered between gains and losses.

- Following Tuesday's rally in US stocks, contracts for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 index increased by about 0.1% each as a result of a fifth consecutive month of negative consumer price growth. Treasury prices increased for a second day, but the dollar fell. For the second time in three days, the Stoxx Europe 600 index fell. Due to worries that its capital spending plan may negatively impact cash flow, charter Communications Inc. saw a 5.8% decline in premarket trading in New York.

- While a softer-than-expected US consumer price index number sparked a rally across stocks and bonds, the gains were muted by scepticism that the Fed might still be steadfast in its commitment to further rate hikes. Traders were on edge about any signals policymakers may give regarding when the hikes will stop and whether a rate cut is likely next year after a 50 basis-point increase in the Fed's policy rate later on Wednesday was firmly priced in.