European shares rose slightly on Wednesday, led by technology and heavy industry stocks, as improved global investor appetite offset a flurry of mixed corporate news.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.2% to 576.84 points, Germany’s DAX index climbed 0.3% to 23,784.18 points, Britain’s FTSE 100 index was flat at 9,694.58 points, and France’s CAC index was flat at 8,075.81 points.
Technology stocks were the biggest support for the index, putting it on track to extend its gains for a fourth consecutive session.
Industrial stocks followed suit, with defense stocks leading the gains with a 1% increase, as Rheinmetall shares rose by 2.1% and Leonardo by 1.2%.
On the geopolitical front, Russia and the United States failed to reach an agreement on a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine after a five-hour meeting at the Kremlin between President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump's top envoys on Wednesday, adding further uncertainty about when a ceasefire might be reached.
In economic data, investors are awaiting comments from European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde to learn about interest rate trends, while a US jobs report is expected later in the day.
On the individual stock front, Inditex shares rose 7% after the Zara brand owner announced a strong start to winter sales, while Sainsbury's shares fell 3.7% after Qatar's sovereign wealth fund announced plans to reduce its stake in the British supermarket group.
