LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - World share markets barely budged and the dollar steadied on Tuesday, as investors awaited U.S inflation data for more clues on the health of the world's largest economy and when the Federal Reserve could start to taper stimulus.
Fears that inflation may prove more prolonged than central bankers expect have kept stocks down in September after seven-months of gains, spurred by the global economy's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
European shares (.STOXX) were 0.1% lower, with luxury shares tracking their Asian peers down on concerns about the spread of COVID-19 cases in China. read more
MSCI's world stocks benchmark (.MIWD00000PUS) was flat. read more
In the U.S., futures , signalled a slightly positive opening.
"Right now, investors are more cautious then they have been. September tends to be a weaker month historically for equity prices," Credit Suisse's senior investment strategist Suresh Tantia said.
Noting that equity prices had been very high, he said there was also the prospect of Fed tapering in the next 2 to 3 months "and that is a negative catalyst for markets."
In Asia, China's tightening grip on its technology companies and a widening liquidity crisis for the country's most indebted developer again kept investors on edge.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was down 0.4%.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (.HSI) sank 1.2%, with shares of developer China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) slumping to the lowest point since 2014 after it said it had appointed financial advisers to examine its capital structure.
The company also said sales would fall again in August on concerns over its debt which would hurt its liquidity and cash flow. . Evergrande shares were down 11.9%.
China's blue-chip CSI300 index (.CSI300) lost 1.5%.
China's technology stocks are being closely scrutinised after authorities told tech giants to stop blocking each other's links on their sites. read more
A series of tightening regulations has dragged down the Hang Seng Tech Index (.HSTECH) by nearly 40% since its peak this year in February.
The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index (.HXC), which tracks Chinese companies listed in the United States, fell 1.1% on Monday. It has declined 35.5% over the past six months.
"We are still concerned about the regulations, what they mean and how they will be rolled out, but with the correction that is underway, that means there is some value in certain parts of the Chinese equities market," Luke Moore, Oreana Financial Services chief executive, told Reuters.
"We don't see an end in sight to the changes yet, we think the uncertainty is going to continue and everyone is looking for clarity on how far the regulations will go and what could be next."
A new rise in COVID-19 cases in China's southeastern province of Fujian also kept investors cautious. read more
Markets are awaiting U.S. inflation data on Tuesday, expected to show core consumer prices rose 0.3% in August. Prices were up 0.3% the previous month and 0.9% in June.
Economists expect annual inflation to ease slightly to 4.2% from 4.3% in July. The data precedes a key meeting by the Federal Reserve on Sept 21-22.
But investors should beware inflation risks, said Markus Allenspach, Julius Baer's head of fixed income research.
"We note that several banks are adjusting their forecast higher at the very last minute, all referring to the upside risk for rents. In fact, house prices are rising fast and, historically, rents have been correlated to house prices in the longer term," said Allenspach.
The prospect of a corporate tax rise in the United States from 21% to 26.5% as part of a $3.5 trillion budget bill remains front and centre for investors. read more
Goldman Sachs estimates a tax rate increase to 25% plus half of the proposed hike in foreign income tax rates could shave 5% off S&P500 earnings in 2022. read more
The dollar index steadied at 92.59, having retreated from Monday's level of 92.887, a 2-1/2-week high. read more
The euro traded at $1.1815 , rebounding from its lowest level since Aug. 27, reached on Monday.
The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes was higher at 1.3428% compared with its U.S. close of 1.324% on Monday. The two-year yield , which rises with traders' expectations of higher Fed fund rates, touched 0.2190% compared with a U.S. close of 0.215%.
Bond yields in the euro area moved up, with Germany's 10-year yield , the benchmark for the bloc, at -0.30%, hitting a two-month high. L8N2QG19D
Oil prices hit a six-week high on Tuesday on concerns that another storm could affect output in Texas. U.S. crude ticked up 0.4% to $70.76 a barrel. Brent crude rose 0.4% to $73.83 per barrel.
Gold was 0.4% lower. Spot gold traded at $1,785.9 per ounce.
Reporting by Tom Arnold in London and Scott Murdoch in Hong Kong; editing by Jacqueline Wong, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Philippa Fletcher, Raissa Kasolowsky and Timothy Heritage
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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