U.S. equity futures nudged higher in early Wednesday trading, while the dollar eased and Treasury yields steadied, as investors braced for a crucial December inflation report that could define the market's direction over the coming weeks.

Global stocks edged up on Wednesday in cautious trading ahead of U.S. consumer price data that could shift the country's monetary policy outlook, while investors waited to see if the earnings of big U.

World stocks were mixed on Wednesday following Wall Street’s mostly positive performance before key U.S. inflation data that could influence the pace of market-boosting rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

European stocks and U.S. futures rose on Tuesday as a sell-off in bond markets moderated, although investors remained cautious ahead of U.S. inflation data on Wednesday and the start of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's second term in office next week.