- As traders waited, expecting the Federal Reserve to hasten the elimination of monetary stimulus, US futures swayed. Treasury rates and the value of the dollar remained unchanged.

- The Nasdaq 100 index fell, while the S&P 500 index remained unchanged. In premarket activity, shares in US-listed Chinese companies fell as the Biden administration was rumoured to be weighing stronger penalties.

- After five days of losses, Europe's Stoxx 600 index rose, but MSCI's Asia-Pacific share guage fell for a fourth session, as a slew of Chinese data pointed to slowing growth amid mounting housing market fall and covid problems.

- Traders are hoping for clarification on the timing of a retreat from a wave of central bank decisions, with the Fed decision likely later on Wednesday, followed by the Bank of England and European Central Bank on Thursday. The Federal Reserve is expected to announce a faster withdrawal of asset purchases, clearing the stage for the first interest-rate hikes since 2018, as it focuses on containing the highest inflation in almost four decades.

- UK's Frost: Negotiations on the protocol are still ongoing and will not be concluded by January 1st.
- BBC's Kuenssberg: Govt source expects Cobra meeting this afternoon with the devolved administrations - Scottish, Welsh and NI govts.
- Iran has reached an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help address nuclear concerns.
- EC Pres. von der Leyen: The EU is prepared to adopt further, unprecedented actions with major implications for Russia.