European Stocks Close Higher Ahead Of Fed Minutes And US Inflation Data

FRANKFURT, Oct 10 (Bernama-dpa-AFX) -- European stocks ended Wednesday on a positive note as investors took long positions in anticipation of the US Federal Reserve's meeting minutes and upcoming US inflation data.

The market is closely monitoring these developments for more clarity on the Fed’s future interest rate path, reported dpa-AFX news.

Also, investors looked ahead to the earnings season. The mood was a bit positive as investors hoped the Chinese government would announce more fiscal stimulus as the economic planning agency's emergency briefing raised scepticism over the sufficiency of previously planned measures. 

The pan European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.66 per cent. The UK's FTSE 100 ended higher by 0.65 per cent, Germany's DAX gained 0.99 per cent and France's CAC 40 ended 0.52 per cent up, while Switzerland's SMI settled 0.93 per cent up. 

Germany's trade surplus increased in August on an unexpected increase in exports amid a bigger-than-expected decline in imports, official data showed on Wednesday.

Exports posted a monthly growth of 1.3 per cent in August following July's 1.7 per cent increase, Destatis reported. This was the second consecutive increase. Shipments were forecast to fall 1 per cent.

--BERNAMA-dpa-AFX