The dollar was little changed against its main rivals, while oil prices dipped as they tracked developments in the Middle East. European and Asian stock markets were not experiencing the volatility that has gripped company values for weeks, as investors weigh corporate earnings against concerns about huge spending by technology firms seeking greater AI presence. "European stock markets were... barely changed along with US futures ahead of key US inflation data while the ongoing concerns about the Middle East keep the oil price and its impact on inflation expectations and yields top of mind for traders," noted Neil Wilson, investor strategist at Saxo UK. The figures are due at 8:30 am New York time (1230 GMT), an hour before Wall Street opens for trading. Oil prices stabilised Wednesday after big swings in recent weeks as US-Iran war tensions ebbed and flowed.