European stock markets traded slightly higher on Wednesday as investors awaited the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy meeting later in the day. A quarter-point rate cut is largely anticipated, but attention remains firmly on the remarks Fed Chair Jerome Powell will deliver regarding the path forward for monetary policy.
On the economic front, U.K. inflation figures came in line with forecasts, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of England will hold rates steady this week.
The Office for National Statistics reported that consumer prices increased 3.8% year over year in August, the same pace as July. The reading matched analyst estimates and marks one of the highest levels since January 2024, when inflation stood at 4.0%.
In equity markets, London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.3% and Germany’s DAX gained 0.2%. France’s CAC 40, however, slipped 0.1%, moving against the broader trend.
Among individual movers, French services group Sodexo (EU:SW) advanced after securing a five-year contract renewal with Shell. German wind turbine manufacturer Nordex (TG:NDX1) also climbed after winning its first order in Ecuador. Meanwhile, Dutch postal operator PostNL (EU:PNL) traded sharply higher following the release of its new “ambitious” targets for 2028.
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