"Investors Brace for Impact: US Futures Dip Ahead of Crucial Inflation Figures"

US equity futures indicated a slightly weaker start for Wall Street as investors awaited key inflation data that could provide insight into the Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates. Contracts for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 slipped about 0.3%, while Europe's Stoxx 600 index climbed 0.5% boosted by a rally in healthcare stocks. Market attention is focused on Tuesday's US consumer price data, which is expected to show a slight easing of inflation. Meanwhile, signs of thawing US-China ties are emerging ahead of a meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, and the yen fell to a fresh 2023 low against the dollar.