(Updates with economic data, recent oil price movement, world markets' overview and corporate stock movements.)
US equity futures were edging lower pre-bell Wednesday as traders looked forward to the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's September policy meeting.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.8% lower, S&P 500 futures were down 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.8% lower.
Traders await the 2 pm ET release of minutes of the Federal Reserve Sept. 16-17 policy session, in which central bankers voted 12-0 to lift interest rates, for insights on the central bank's thinking.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Iran has missed "multiple" opportunities to reach a deal on its controversial nuclear program, amid the lack of progress in the peace talks between the two nations, CNBC reported. Despite the recent increase in crude exports passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has ramped up attacks on vessels transiting the waterway, with almost 20 ships coming under attack over the past month, the news outlet reported Tuesday.
Traders also digested the latest round of earnings, with Constellation Brands (STZ) posting late Tuesday higher adjusted earnings and net sales for fiscal Q2.
Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 1.1% at $101.70 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.8% higher at $90.13 per barrel.
The August consumer credit release is slated for a 3 pm ET release.
In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.9% lower, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.6% lower. China's Shanghai Composite was closed for a public holiday. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.5%, and Germany's DAX index was 1.2% lower in Europe's early afternoon session.
In equities, Constellation Brands stock was down 2.1% after the company posted its fiscal Q2 results. Micron Technology (MU) shares fell 2.5% after a Reuters report that members of a union representing workers at the company's Taoyuan operations in Taiwan have authorized a strike over the company's bonus scheme. HSBC (HSBC) stock was 3.8% lower after a Financial Times report that the company is considering sweeping job cuts in its UK wealth management business as part of a drive toward AI-powered services.
On the winning side, Venture Global (VG) shares rose 1.2% after a Bloomberg report Tuesday that the company is in early-stage talks with at least three Chinese buyers, including PetroChina, to supply liquefied natural gas from its Louisiana export facilities.