• US equity markets seesawed between gains and losses on Tuesday as investors digested a surprisingly soft wholesale inflation report and awaited more inflation data on Wednesday. Every number in the PPI report, both headline and core gauge for the monthly and yearly time frame came in softer than expected. This weak appetiser should ease expectations a touch for the main course – the upcoming CPI data for December – released tonight. The Dow up 221 points or 0.52%, the 30-stock index again being led by for a second straight session by non-tech shares, Caterpillar (up 2.5%), and 3M (up 1.94%) leading the charge.
