Oil prices rose on Wednesday on expectations of strong global demand, including in the world's top consumer the United States, and as even somewhat sticky U.S. inflation did not dent expectations the Fed might start cutting rates soon.

Toyota Motor Corp has agreed to fully meet its union's request for annual pay increases, the Mainichi newspaper said on Wednesday, as top Japanese companies look likely to offer sizeable salary hikes at annual talks with unions.

The U.S. dollar held steady against a handful of rival currencies on Wednesday, as traders weighed what impact hotter-than-expected inflation data could have on chances of an interest rate cut at the Federal Reserve's June meeting.

Vietnam's large trade surplus with the United States may reignite tensions with Washington in the event of a second Trump presidency, analysts warned, as exports of solar panels and other sensitive electric products boom.

British wages excluding bonuses grew at their slowest pace since October 2022 while the unemployment rate edged up unexpectedly, according to data which may slightly ease the Bank of England's inflation worries.

The British public's expectations for inflation over the next year and also the longer term fell in February, U.S. bank Citi said after publishing a monthly survey conducted by market research company YouGov.