UK inflation slid to 2.6% in June from 2.8% in May, spurred by softened petrol prices.

UK policymakers tie the decline to potential living-cost relief for measures tied to inflation.

The South African rand held unchanged ahead of its own inflation data release.

In Australia, Reserve Bank observers point out inflation data is critical for guiding interest rate expectations.

Traders in South Africa look for the release of important economic figures after this week's turbulence in the rand.