The mining sub-index .AXMM swayed between positive and negative territories, while BHP Group BHP.AX and Rio Tinto RIO.AX gained 0.2% and 0.7%, respectively. Feb 15 (Reuters) - Australian shares slipped on Wednesday as higher U.S. inflation increased bets that the U.S. Federal Reserve would continue with its rate-hiking cycle. U.S consumer prices increased 6.4% in the 12 months through January, marking its smallest annual rise since late-2021, but faster than the 6.2% that economists had projected.