Global stocks higher after Wall St falls on inflation fears

Global stock prices are mostly higher as investors look ahead to U.S. data they worry will show inflation picking up

BEIJING -- Global stock prices were mostly higher Wednesday as investors looked ahead to U.S. data they worry will show inflation is picking up. London and Frankfurt opened higher while Shanghai and Hong Kong also advanced. Tokyo declined. Wall Street futures sank after the benchmark S&P 500 index on Tuesday lost 0.9% amid concern inflation might accelerate, hampering an economic recovery and dragging on share prices. More U.S. inflation data were due out Wednesday. Investor concern is increasing after prices rose for industrial materials including copper and crude oil.