European Stocks Trade Higher
European stocks rose on Thursday, with the Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 up 0.3%, as investors awaited central bank interest rate decisions and eyed corporate earnings. Optimism also grew around U.K.-U.S. trade relations, with reports suggesting Britain could be the first country to reach a deal on new U.S. tariffs.
In corporate headlines, Puma SE delivered a solid Q1 performance, offering some reassurance despite the absence of a CEO. AB InBev posted earnings at the top end of its guidance, helped by better-than-expected sales volumes.
Maersk also beat expectations for Q1 operating profit and kept its full-year outlook steady. Siemens Energy raised its forecast after a strong quarter driven by favorable market conditions, although it warned of a tariff-related hit to earnings. Attention now turns to interest rate announcements from Sweden’s Riksbank, Norway’s Norges Bank and especially the Bank of England, which is widely expected to cut rates amid slowing inflation and global economic uncertainty.
Source: Trading Economics
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