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.

Investors are gearing up for December's crucial consumer price index to determine the direction of Fed policy.

Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday after Tuesday's Wall Street topsy-turvy session after wholesale inflation data that came in softer than expected. Investors will keenly look ahead to key U.S. inflation data that could play the pace of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.