US STOCKS-Wall St futures mixed as inflation woes weigh

U.S. stock index futures struggled for direction on Friday after hotter-than-expected inflation data roiled rate-sensitive stocks in the previous session, leaving investors on edge ahead of the Federal Reserve’s meeting next week. Traders reined in bets of a June rate cut by the Fed to 60% from 73% last week, according to the CME FedWatch Tool, on worries that higher inflation would put the central bank under increased pressure to keep interest rates elevated. All eyes are now on next week’s Federal Reserve meeting for possible hints on the timing of the central bank’s rate-easing cycle.