1. Global stocks higher
European stock markets were broadly higher, powered by gains in mining and energy shares as hopes for more central bank stimulus to counter a global economic slowdown underpinned market sentiment.
Germany’s DAX was up 0.78%, London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.28%, and France’s CAC 40 was up 0.49%.
Asian stocks rose seven-week highs overnight and emerging market currencies also rallied.
2. Wall Street points to higher open
U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with the Dow 30 futures up 0.45%, S&P 500 futures rising 0.45% and the Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.64%.
3. Crude oil rises for second day
Crude prices were higher for a second day, after rallying nearly 5% on Tuesday.
The move higher was triggered by a report from the American Petroleum Institute showing a 1.2M barrel decrease in crude stocks last week and comments by OPEC’S general secretary saying supply levels could fall in the near future.
The U.S. Energy Administration Department was to release its weekly storage report at 10:30 ET.
4. AB InBev increases takeover bid for SABMiller
Anheuser-Busch Inbev (NYSE:BUD), the world's largest brewer, increased its takeover offer for rival brewer SABMiller (LONDON:SAB) to $104 billion on Wednesday.
But it appeared that SABMiller was set to reject the offer, saying AB InBev was very substantially undervaluing it.
5. VW shares higher after it outlines recall timeline
Volkswagen (XETRA:VOWG) shares jumped more than 8% on Wednesday after CEO Matthias Mueller said it will start recalling cars fitted with emissions-rigging software in January and said all cars affected should be repaired by the end of 2016.
The emissions rigging scandal is the largest crisis in Volkswagen's 78-year history and it has wiped more than a third off its share price and sent shockwaves through the global car industry.