Oil and gold are firmer but stock markets are a bit muddled.

A mixed Asian session has been followed by mild gains in Europe, even as S&P 500 futures dip.

Wall Street's equity benchmark remains within one firm session away from closing above the 2400 level for the first time,

having spent several days within quartertile range.

Bulls will hope this is just another consolidation phase

but bears will be worried that the valley's momentum may have fatally stalled.

Corporate earnings have been supporting valuations but the reporting season in the US is now drawing to a close.

So investors will be looking for fresh catalysts, perhaps Friday's US data dump will provide some trading opportunities.

Inflation, retail sale and consumer confidence reports will be published in the Wall Street in the morning.

They should keep currency and fixed income trends on their toes, too.

The Dollar Index is just below the 100 mark.

And ten-year treasury yields are easing 2 basis points to 2.38%.

Will the data shift expectations for what the fed will do next month?

Currently the market sees an 80% chance that Central Bank will raise rates again in June.