NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Investors will be looking at fuel supplies and comments from the Federal Reserve for direction for Wednesday's trading.

Stock futures were down slightly in early trading, although a comparison to fair value suggested a flat to narrowly lower open for stocks, ahead of the 10:30 a.m. ET Energy Department report on U.S. fuel inventories. While supplies of oil and some fuels are expected to gain, gasoline supplies are forecast to be tighter, which could drive up gasoline prices further ahead of the start of the summer driving season. That in turn could raise fresh inflation concerns.

Markets will also be weighing comments late Wednesday from some Federal Reserve officials, including Kansas City Fed President Thomas Hoenig and Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker, who both suggested the central bank is getting close to the end of its course of interest rate hikes.

Oil prices were slightly lower in early trading ahead of the report.

The May light crude futures contract for NYMEX slipped 1 cent to $66.22 a barrel in electronic trading, while the May contract for Brent crude lost 21 cents to $66.18.

Major markets in Asia closed mixed Wednesday, with Japan's Nikkei slipping while some other markets in the region gained. Markets in Hong Kong were closed for a holiday. Major European markets were lower in early trading.

Treasury prices were slightly higher on the comments from the Fed presidents, cutting the yield on the benchmark 10-year note to 4.85 percent from 4.86 percent late Tuesday. The dollar was little changed against the euro and the yen.

Economic reports due Wednesday include the survey of service sector executives by the Institute of Supply Managament. The ISM service index is forecast to slip to 59.0 for March from 60.1 in February, according to economists surveyed by Briefing.com.

For a more detailed look at the markets before the open, click here.