Live Markets-Before the bell: cautiously ticking higher
SPY•European futures point slightly higher
European equity futures are pointing to a tentatively higher market open on Wednesday - STOXX 50, DAX and CAC futures are all up around 0.2%, while FTSE futures are 0.3% higher.
A slight dip in oil prices and some calm in bond markets seem to be enough to inject a little bit of optimism. If that lasts is of course a whole different story.
Brent crude is still above $108 after all, tensions in the Middle East show no signs of abating, and then of course there's the looming Federal Reserve interest rate decision and press conference - and it looks like there could be quite some fallout from that as we head into the second half of the week.
Corporate updates from Barratt Redrow and Babcock
In corporate news, UK homebuilder Barratt Redrow trimmed its home completions target for fiscal 2027, citing planning delays and fewer sales outlet openings, while British defence and engineering group Babcock International reaffirmed its full-year outlook.
UK inflation rises ahead of the Bank of England decision
Back in Europe, official data showed that British inflation accelerated to a five-month high of 3.1% in August from 2.9% in July - just before Thursday's Bank of England interest rate decision.
