February CPI data due at 830 am ET
Regional banks rebound in premarket trade
United Airlines falls on downbeat forecast
Futures up Dow 0.44, SP 0.47, Nasdaq 0.37

March 14 Reuters U.S. stock index futures rose on Tuesday after a volatile session amid fears of a banking crisis, while investors looked ahead to an inflation report that could determine whether the central bank will pause its rate hikes in March.

The recent shutdown of SVB Financial and peer Signature Bank has fueled fears of risks to the health of other banks from surging interest rates, hammering the sector and the broader market sentiment in the last few days.

Investors are now hoping that the threat of a financial crisis could force the U.S Federal Reserve to ease up on monetary tightening. Money market traders have already abandoned wagers of a steep 50 basis point increase next week.

They are largely expecting a 25basispoint rate hike in March, while bets that the Fed would stay put stood at 27. .

The Labor Department39;s February consumer prices report, due at 830 am ET, will also feed into the Fed39;s policy decision at its March meeting.

A Reuters poll of economists showed that the U.S. Consumer Price Index CPI likely increased by 0.4 last month after accelerating 0.5 in January amid sticky rental housing costs.

On a yearly basis, CPI is expected to rise 6.0 in February, moderating from a 6.4 rise the previous month.

If we get a slightly poorer figure, people will then hope for an outright…