Central Bank, Inflation Views Limit European Bourses Midday
2024-12-11
Category: economic

European bourses tracked evenly midday Wednesday as traders awaited a policy decision from the European Central Bank slated for Thursday, and the pending US inflation report from Washington. 
Food and beverage stocks edged higher, while retail issues lagged. 
Investors also eyed Wall Street futures modestly signaling green, and uneven closes overnight on Asian exchanges, although Seoul lodged its second-straight day of strong gains despite domestic political turmoil. 
The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was steady mid-session. 
The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 0.2%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.1%. 
The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 0.2%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.2%. 
The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.7%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 2.6%. 
On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was flat, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.1%. The CAC 40 in Paris was 0.1% higher, but Spain's IBEX 35 lost 1%. 
Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.12%. 
Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 1.3% to $73.08 per barrel. 
The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 3.8% to 14.60, indicating below-average volatility for European stock markets in the next 30 days, a positive signal. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.