08:46 AM EST, 11/13/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were nearly flat before Wednesday's opening bell as traders digested consumer inflation data for clues on the future direction of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell 0.2%, S&P 500 futures declined 0.2% and Nasdaq futures were also down 0.2%.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.3% at $72.11 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate 0.4% higher at $68.38 per barrel.

The Consumer Price Index, released at 8:30 am ET, showed a 0.2% increase in consumer prices for October to match the prior month's gain, in line with estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1.7% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.1% lower, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.5% higher. Meanwhile, UK's FTSE 100 slipped 0.2%, and Germany's DAX index fell 0.5% in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, shares of Dave ( DAVE ) were 33% higher pre-bell after the company on Tuesday lifted its 2024 financial guidance.

On the losing side, Vroom (VRM) stock was 34% lower, a day after the company said it plans to file a prepackaged Chapter 11 reorganization plan.