- Germany into Nations League quarters, France and Italy win
- Nagelsmann lauds 'supercharged' Germany's 'best half of the year'
- 'Pandas are coming': Two new bears depart China for US capital
- Dodgers pitcher Kershaw plans to return for 2025
- Mbappe 'investigated for rape' in Sweden: report
- Revived Italy sweep past Israel in Nations League amid high security
- Trudeau slams India as tensions soar over Sikh separatist's murder
- Harris courts Black voters as Trump makes inroads
- Wall Street stocks hit fresh records as oil prices slide
- Nigerian team return home after boycotting AFCON qualifier in Libya
- Nigeria refuse to play in Libya as Algeria, Cameroon qualify
- Strike-hit Boeing leaves experts puzzled by strategy
- Leweling rockets Germany past Dutch and into Nations League quarterfinals
- Kolo Muani double fires France to win in Belgium
- Italy sweep past Israel in Nations League amid high security
- UN peacekeepers to 'stay in all positions' in Lebanon
- NASA launches probe to study if life possible on icy Jupiter moon
- 'Unique' Ronaldo an example to everyone, says Martinez
- New lawsuits against Sean Combs allege sex assault, including of minor
- Italy begins migrant transfers to Albania with first group of 16
- Google signs nuclear power deal with startup Kairos
- Carsley open to foreign England manager amid Guardiola links
- Pogba hungry to have his football cake after doping ban
- India and Canada expel top envoys in Sikh separatist killing row
- Mbappe says victim of 'fake news' after 'rape' report in Sweden
- Lebanon says 21 killed in strike on northern village
- Netanyahu vows no mercy after deadly Hezbollah drone strike
- Russia could be able to attack NATO by 2030: German intelligence
- EVs seek to regain sales momentum at Paris Motor Show
- Clarke backs Scotland to bounce back from 'tough' run
- Harris, Trump target crucial Pennsylvania as US vote looms
- NASA probe Europa Clipper lifts off for Jupiter's icy moon
- Lebanese Red Cross says 18 killed in strike in north
- Mendy borrowed money from Man City team-mates for legal fees
- Palestinian officials say Israeli forces kill two in West Bank
- Football leagues, unions file EU complaint against FIFA in calendar dispute
- Nigeria boycott AFCON qualifier in Libya after 'inhumane treatment'
- India to recall top envoy to Canada: foreign ministry
- Hezbollah, Israeli troops in 'violent clashes' after drone strike
- China insists won't renounce 'use of force' to take Taiwan as drills end
- Painkiller sale plan to US gives France major headache
- Italy begins landmark migrant transfers to Albania
- Russia jails French researcher for three years
- 'Unsustainable' housing crisis bedevils Spain's socialist govt
- Stocks shrug off China disappointment but oil slides
- New Zealand 4-0 up in America's Cup but British show signs of life
- Russian prosecutor demands 3 years prison for French researcher
- 'Innocent' British nerve agent victim caught in global murder plot: inquiry
- Afghan Taliban vow to implement media ban on images of living things
- Russian prosecutor demands 3 years, 3 months jail for French researcher
Asian markets cautiously higher as US inflation looms
Equity markets edged up Tuesday as investors cautiously awaited the release of US inflation data, aware that a big miss in either direction could have major implications for the Federal Reserve's interest rate plans over the next few months.
Wall Street's three main bourses provided a tepid lead as traders in New York bided their time ahead of the closely watched consumer price index report as well as other key figures including retail sales and jobless claims.
Earnings from retail titans Walmart and Target will also provide an idea about consumer activity later in the day.
A number of Fed decision-makers are lined up to make speeches, which will be pored over for their views on the central bank's best course of action as they try to bring prices under control without tipping the economy into recession.
There is a general consensus that they have already hit their peak in terms of rates, having brought inflation down from more than nine percent last year, though officials have left the door open to another hike.
CPI is forecast to have hit 3.3 percent in October, down from 3.7 percent in September, according to a Bloomberg survey of economists. But that is still well above the Fed's two percent target.
"While the US economic data is expected to be more or less well-behaved, investors are fully aware that fluctuations in inflation, especially top-side beats, are an ongoing risk to markets," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.
"Although the likelihood of a renewed discussion on higher terminal rates is a high hurdle to clear, it is too early to completely dismiss the possibility of a hike in December (or January).
"Even if the data comes in hotter than consensus and doesn't move the needle for December, it could upcall for a January rate hike."
Other analysts pointed out that policymakers have reasserted their determination to bring inflation to heel and would keep borrowing costs elevated for some time, even if they do not lift again.
Laila Pence, at Pence Wealth Management, said Fed chief Jerome Powell and his team were "pretty much done, but rates are gonna stay higher for longer just as an insurance policy".
"They're going to be a lot slower in reducing rates and that will be a little bit unpleasant for the market next year, but they’ll deal with it," she told Bloomberg Television.
Asian markets mostly rose but trader nervousness was preventing them from rallying too much.
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta were all just up slightly. However, Singapore, Manila and Bangkok edged down.
There are also hopes the meeting this week between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping could ease tensions between the economic superpowers and give a much-needed boost to markets.
"The signal that there are more efforts to put a floor around bilateral relations or even some modest improvement in the short term could provide a temporary boost to the investment sentiment," Credit Agricole CIB's Xiaojia Zhi said.
- Key figures around 0700 GMT -
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.3 percent at 32,695.93 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.2 percent at 17,466.13
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,056.07 (close)
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 151.68 yen from 151.71 yen on Monday
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0700 from $1.0701
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2277 from $1.2280
Euro/pound: UP at 87.15 pence from 87.12 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.2 percent at $78.44 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.2 percent at $82.72 per barrel
New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 34,337.87 (close)
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.9 percent at 7,425.83 (close)
Ch.Havering--AMWN