Nearly 6,000 employees at an Amazon warehouse just outside of Birmingham, Alabama, called BHM1, began a vote this week to unionize their facility, marking the first such significant effort by Amazon workers in the U.S. The retail giant has been fighting hard against the endeavor with anti-union posters, a dedicated website launch and holding mandatory meetings during work hours, but a group of more than 70 investors has written a letter asking the company to stop interfering with the vote and remain neutral. They have cited worker rights to unionize, as well as possible negative effects on Amazon's reputation among customers. 

Global shares hit a record high on Wednesday, with sentiment boosted by optimism about the latest data on the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines.  Investors will look for clues on how the Federal Reserve plans to respond to brighter economic prospects when its chairman Jay Powell speaks later on Wednesday, at the Economic Club of New York, about the state of the US labour market.

U.S. consumer prices rose moderately in January and underlying inflation remained benign as the pandemic continues to be a drag on the labor market and services industry.  The Labor Department said on Wednesday its consumer price index increased 0.3% last month after climbing 0.4% in December. In the 12 months through January the CPI rose 1.4% after a similar gain in December.