Asian shares are mostly higher ahead of the release of U.S. consumer inflation data. Benchmarks rose in most major markets. U.S. futures rose and oil prices also advanced as the OPEC+ members were preparing to discuss production cuts. An official survey of Chinese factory managers showed manufacturing to be in contraction in November, indicating further weakness in the world's No. 2 economy despite recent signs of improvement. On Wednesday, stocks meandered to a mixed close on Wall Street as selling of Big Tech companies offset gains elsewhere. The S&P 500 shed 0.1%. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.2% and the Dow eked out a gain of 13 points.
