U.S. stock index futures climbed on Wednesday, ahead of a key inflation reading that will likely shape expectations of future monetary policy actions. Investors also received quarterly results from the biggest U.

Gold prices held nearly steady on Tuesday as market participants maintained caution ahead of key U.S. inflation data, which could throw further light on the U.S. interest rate trajectory. Spot gold was little changed at $2,

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release the consumer price index report for December at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday. What the inflation data will mean for the Fed and interest rates.

The closely scrutinized monthly consumer-price index is due at 8:30 a.m. ET. Here are some key points to know ahead of the report: Economists expect annual inflation to come in at 2.9% as of December,

Inflation in the US, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is expected to rise by 2.9% annually in November, up slightly from 2.7% in November. Core CPI inflation, which strips out the more volatile food and energy categories, is projected to hold steady at 3.3% from a year earlier.