GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks slip as traders hold fire ahead of US inflation data

World stocks eased on Wednesday as traders held their fire ahead of a U.S. inflation reading this week that may influence the timing of the Federal Reserve's easing cycle. Markets across major assets were generally quiet, with investor focus squarely on the U.S. personal consumption expenditures price index for January, the Fed's preferred inflation measure, due on Thursday. A slew of strong economic data, along with sticky inflation, has resulted in traders drastically dialling back their initial expectations of deep and early interest rate cuts from the Fed.