Inflation Outlook and Earnings Lift Wall Street Futures; Asia Mixed, Europe Higher
Europe Equities Trade Higher Ahead of Earnings, Inflation Data
European stock markets advanced on Wednesday as investors digested a slew of corporate earnings and awaited key inflation data later in the week.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.3% in early trading, with all major sectors in positive territory.
Among individual stocks, Volvo jumped 9.3% after reporting better-than-expected quarterly results.
Luxury goods giant LVMH gained 1.4% after reporting strong sales growth in the first quarter.
Asia Equities Mixed Amid Earnings, Inflation Concerns
Asian stock markets traded mixed on Wednesday, with investors weighing corporate earnings and rising inflation concerns.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 0.5%, weighed down by losses in tech stocks.
China's Shanghai Composite index edged up 0.1%, while the Shenzhen Component index gained 0.3%.
South Korea's KOSPI index rose 0.7%, led by gains in tech and consumer stocks.
Wall Street Futures Rise as Inflation Forecast Eases
U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Wednesday as investors cheered a slightly lower inflation forecast from the Federal Reserve.
Contracts tracking the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4%, while S&P 500 futures gained 0.5% and Nasdaq futures added 0.7%.
The Fed on Tuesday lifted interest rates by a half-percentage point, as expected, and said it would start reducing its balance sheet next month.
However, the Fed also revised down its inflation forecast for the year, which helped to ease some concerns about the central bank's aggressive tightening cycle.
