European stocks ended the trading session on the eve of the European Central Bank’s leadership meeting with moderate growth. Investors expect the ECB to decide to continue its loose monetary policy.
The pan-European STOXX 600 stock index gained 0.1 percent on Wednesday, holding only slightly below the all-time high of previous trading sessions. European stocks were helped by optimistic expectations ahead of the European Central Bank‘s meeting on Thursday. Its leadership will take a monetary policy decision, and investors are counting on the ECB to confirm the current loose trend.
Another important factor was the strengthening of airline shares. Air France-KLM, Lufthansa and International Airlines Group (owner of British Airways) grew by around three percent. This was due to a notice from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that it was relaxing restrictions on travel to 110 countries and territories.
On Thursday, investors’ attention will also be focused on US inflation data. If inflation continues to accelerate in the US, the Federal Reserve’s response to tightening monetary policy could come, which would not be good news for stock markets.
