U.S. S&P 500 futures were little changed Wednesday morning as traders absorbed a hotter-than-expected August core inflation print. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were flat. S&P 500 futures rose 0.04%, and Nasdaq 100 futures ticked lower by 0.02%. August consumer price index rose 0.6% for the month, and was up 3.7% from a year ago. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones were looking for respective increases of 0.6% and 3.6%. However, core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy, increased 0.3% and 4.3% respectively, against estimates for 0.2% and 4.3%. Federal Reserve officials focus more on the core number as it provides a better indication of where inflation is heading over the long term. Wall Street has mostly priced in a pause in rate hikes at the Fed’s next meeting. Fed funds futures pricing data as of Wednesday morning indicate a 93% probability of rates remaining the same, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. The major averages all posted losses during Tuesday’s main trading session. The Nasdaq Composite was particularly hard-hit, declining 1% as tech names came under pressure. The S&P 500 fell nearly 0.6%, while the Dow ticked down less than 0.1%. U.S. Treasury yields were higher on Wednesday as investors weighed the latest consumer inflation figures, which could affect Federal Reserve interest rate policy. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was up by 4 basis points to 4.302%. The 2-year Treasury yield was last at 5.024% after rising by 1.9 basis points. Asia-Pacific markets fell across the board as investors assess key economic data out of Japan and South Korea. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell after a three-day winning streak, sliding 0.21% to 32,706.52 while the Topix saw a smaller loss of 0.05% to close at 2,378.64. South Korea’s Kospi inched lower by 0.07% to end at 2,534.7 but the Kosdaq was down 1.71% to 882.72. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slid 0.74% to close at 7,153.9. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index reversed earlier gains and shed 0.09% to end at 18,009.22, while mainland Chinese stocks also fell, with the CSI 300 down 0.64% to end off at 3,736.65. Oil prices extended 10-month highs on Wednesday, driven by expectations that crude supply will remain tight for the rest of the year. Saudi Arabia and Russia’s extension of 1.3 million barrels per day of crude oil production cuts to the end of this year will lock in a substantial market deficit through the fourth quarter, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday. The continuing supply cuts could lift Brent futures above the $100 a barrel threshold before the end of the year, Bank of America analysts said on Wednesday. Benchmark Brent futures rose 57 cents, or 0.62%, to $92.63 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 57 cents, or 0.64%, to $89.41. Gold steadied on Wednesday as traders kept their eyes peeled for U.S. inflation data that could shape the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook, although higher U.S. bond yields and a firm dollar kept bullion prices near two-week lows. Spot gold was steady at $1,912.51 per ounce, having touched its lowest level since Aug. 25 at $1,906.50 on Tuesday. U.S. gold futures were unchanged at $1,935.