ROME: After a choppy session, European stocks ended mostly higher on Wednesday, although investors remained cautious after worries about growth in China and a possible U.S. interest-rate hike drove a selloff in the previous session.
The Stoxx Europe 600 SXXP, +0.27% rose 0.3% to close at 353.86, after swinging in and out of positive territory throughout the session.
European stocks were part of a slide in global equities Tuesday, as weaker-than-expected factory activity data from China and mixed manufacturing readings from the eurozone underscored concerns about global growth.
Investors are likely to hear more about the eurozone’s growth prospects on Thursday, when the European Central Bank holds a news conference after its interest rate decision.
National benchmarks: In Wednesday’s trade, Germany’s DAX 30 index DAX, +0.32% ended 0.3% higher at 10,048.05, while France’s CAC 40 index PX1, +0.30% climbed 0.3% to 4,554.92.
The FTSE 100 UKX, +0.41% rose 0.4% to 6,083.31, even with energy stocks under pressure as oil prices CLV5, +0.00% fell more than 3%. Oil major Royal Dutch Shell PLC RDSB, -0.33% RDS.B, +1.53% slipped 0.3% and BP PLC BP., -1.17% BP, +0.19% lost 1.2%.
