Mining giants BHP Group BHP.AX and Rio Tinto RIO.AX dipped 0.2% and 1.9%, respectively. Oct 12 (Reuters) - Australian shares inched higher in volatile trade on Wednesday, with gains in financials outweighing losses in mining and energy stocks, while caution prevailed ahead of key U.S. inflation data due later in the week. Market participants across the world are looking forward to U.S. inflation readings that are expected to show persistently strong price pressures and cement the Federal Reserve's hawkish rhetoric on monetary policy.