It has certainly been a busy week for global financial markets thanks key economic data and earnings from some of the largest companies in the world.

Most Asian equities flashed red on Tuesday, pressured by losses in Chinese shares as investors evaluated China’s re-opening story in the face of negative economic and geopolitical forces.

Asian shares finished mixed on Tuesday, shrugging off the initial boost from China’s better-than-expected Q1 GDP as signs of an uneven recovery stalled risk taking. The world’s second largest economy smashed forecasts by expanding 4.5% in the first quarter from a year earlier.

The countdown begins for the heavily anticipated U.S inflation that data that may impact the Fed's monetary policy path. Most Asian stocks struggled for direction on Wednesday, while European and US equity futures are both pointing to a mixed open in what feels like the calm before a potential storm!