Today European stocks started rising as investors evaluate corporate reporting of large companies. In addition, market participants are waiting for the meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB), which will take place on Thursday. Investors generally do not expect any action, however, will closely follow the comments Central Bank president, Mario Draghi on the possible extension of QE in connection with the decision of the UK to leave the EU.
At the same time, investors remain cautious after the International Monetary Fund has revised downwards its forecast for global economic growth for 2016 to 3.1% from 3.2%, although it expects a rebound to 3.4% in 2017.
Statistics on the labor market of the UK provided support. The unemployment rate in the UK fell to its lowest level in more than 10 years in May, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday.
The unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent in the three months to May from 5.6 percent a year earlier.
The last time the index was lower was the period from July to September 2005. Expected rate was 5 percent.
At the same time, the employment rate amounted to 74.4 percent, the highest since comparable records began in 1971.
Average weekly earnings, including bonuses, increased by 2.3 percent, and earnings excluding bonuses rose by 2.2 percent compared with a year earlier.
The level of claims for unemployment benefits remained steady at 2.2 percent in June, in line with expectations. The number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose slightly to 400 in May.
Shares of software developer SAP SE rose by more than 3%, as the company's profit exceeded market expectations in the last quarter.
Quotes of ASML, Europe's largest manufacturer of equipment for the production of semiconductors, rose 1.6% on better-than-expected profitability forecast for 2016.
Shares of Man Group, the world's largest hedge fund management company fell by 4.1%.
The price of shares of Nordea Bank are growing due to strong quarterly numbers.
Shares of Swiss pharmaceutical companies Lonza increased by 5.2% due to improved forecast for 2016 at the maximum in the history of the company's profit growth in the first half.
Shares of Bayer rose 0.2%, despite the statement by Monsanto that the proposal of the German companie for $ 64 billion is "financially inadequate", amid speculation that the board will support the offer of $ 130 per share.
At the moment:
FTSE 6716.77 19.40 0.29%
DAX 10122.52 141.28 1.42%
CAC 4382.21 52.08 1.20%