World stocks soft ahead of US inflation data

World stocks steadied around the week's lows with the mood dampened by inflation worries ahead of US consumer price data later on Wednesday, with economic recovery in many countries keeping oil prices near multi-year highs. September US CPI is forecast to show a monthly gain of 0.3 per cent, according to a Reuters poll. Minutes of the US Federal Reserve's September policy meeting are also due later, while JPMorgan will be the first major bank to report at the unofficial start of the company earnings season. "The markets are at a crossroads," said Giles Coghlan, chief currency analyst at HYCM. "Are we are in a stagflationary environment - will we see low growth but high inflation? That's the concern." The MSCI world equity index was flat after dropping in the previous three sessions. European stocks fell 0.4 per cent and are nearly 5 per cent below their August peak. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan clawed back some ground, rising 0.3 per cent after falling over 1 per cent a day earlier, its worst daily performance in three weeks.

Positive trade figures from China, which showed export growth unexpectedly accelerated in September, provided some relief to those worried about a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy. The data helped Chinese blue chips jump 1.2 per cent, despite continued weakness in real estate stocks. Japan's Nikkei shed 0.3 per cent, as high energy prices and a weak yen mean trouble for a country that buys the bulk of its oil from overseas. The euro was up 0.2 per cent at $1.1551. "There is pressure from the inflation story," said Charles Diebel, head of fixed income at asset manager Mediolanum, pointing to increased expectations of UK rate hikes. "People are worrying about the same happening elsewhere, they fear inflation will be so persistent central banks will be forced to respond." Oil prices lost some froth on the inflation concerns although surging prices for power generation fuel such as coal and natural gas limited losses. Brent crude was steady at $83.40 a barrel, off Monday's three-year high of $84.60. Reuters