European stocks were little changed, as investors considered earnings from companies including Akzo Nobel NV and GlaxoSmithKline Plc, while a measure of consumer confidence unexpectedly declined.

Data this month showed euro-area retail sales increased in May from a year earlier, while car registrations climbed in June. In the U.S., a report showed the number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits fell in the week ended July 12.

Still, shares pared gains after a report showed euro-area consumer confidence unexpectedly fell in July. An index of household confidence in the 18-nation euro zone decreased to minus 8.4 from minus 7.5 in June, the European Commission in Brussels said in a preliminary release. That fell short of the median forecast of minus 7.5 in a Bloomberg News survey.

National benchmark indexes rose in 15 of the 18 western-European markets. France's CAC 40 advanced 0.2 percent, Germany's DAX increased 0.2 percent, and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 added less than 0.1 percent.

The European Union is weighing limiting Russia's access to capital markets. Two planes carrying bodies from flight MH17 left eastern Ukraine today for the Netherlands. The U.S. has indicated it believes Russia supplied the missile that downed the Malaysia Airlines jet last week, killing all 298 people on board.

Akzo Nobel rose 3.9 percent to 54.23 euros. Europe's largest paintmaker said second-quarter operating profit rose 10 percent to 353 million euros ($475 million), driven by demand for household coatings in Asia and parts of Europe. Analysts had estimated 340 million euros.

Outotec surged 7.5 percent to 8.21 euros. Weir may consider buying the Finnish company after it failed in a bid for mine-equipment supplier Metso Oyj earlier this year, according to newspapers including the Daily Mail, which said Weir could offer 12 euros a share.

GlaxoSmithKline dropped 4.7 percent to 1,481.5 pence. The U.K.'s biggest drugmaker posted second-quarter earnings that missed analyst estimates as sales of its respiratory drugs in the U.S. remained sluggish. The company also cut its forecast for the year.

Deutsche Bank lost 0.7 percent to 26.48 euros, paring losses of as much as 2.8 percent. The Wall Street Journal said that bank overseers faulted some of the German lender's U.S. businesses last year for "inaccurate and unreliable" financial reports. A Federal Reserve Bank of New York review of the company's U.S. operations also found they suffered from inadequate oversight and auditing, as well as weak technology, the newspaper said, citing documents it reviewed.

STMicroelectronics NV fell 5.8 percent to 6.56 euros. Europe's largest semiconductor maker reported an 8.9 percent decline in second-quarter revenue to $1.86 billion, even as it posted its first profit in 11 quarters.

U.S. stock futures advanced as investors weighed earnings from Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Apple Inc. to assess the strength of the economy.

Global markets:

Nikkei 15,328.56 -14.72 -0.10%

Hang Seng 23,971.87 +189.76 +0.80%

Shanghai Composite 2,078.49 +3.01 +0.14%

FTSE 6,796.82 +1.48 +0.02%

CAC 4,389.13 +19.61 +0.45%

DAX 9,782.45 +48.12 +0.49%

Crude oil $102.47 (+0.08%)

Gold $1309.20 (+0.22%)

(company / ticker / price / change, % / volume)

European stock indices show moderate increase, which is associated with the publication of corporate reporting and geopolitical factors. Futures on American stock indexes little changed, while Asian shares rose.

Investors remained cautious after the European Union on Tuesday threatened Russia with more severe sanctions on Ukraine. EU ministers agreed to expand the list of persons and entities whose assets are frozen and which will apply visa sanctions. U.S. counting on stricter sanctions that would have pushed Moscow to cooperate in the international investigation airliner crash in Malaysia.

At the same time, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on Hamas for a truce in the conflict between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip.

Little influenced by the Bank of England meeting minutes, which showed: Committee members, as expected, voted unanimously to maintain interest rates unchanged at a record low 0.5%, and for the preservation of the current size of its asset purchase program £ 375 billion Central Bank suggested that the potential threat to economic recovery in the event of a rate hike now decreased, and a number of representatives MPC noted that over the past few months, the balance of factors in favor of tightening has become more balanced. However, the Central Bank did not mention the possible timing of the first rate hike, explaining that they will depend on incoming economic data. This fact provoked a decrease of the British currency. In addition, the Central Bank mentioned that the strengthening of the pound may reflect the performance of the British economy in comparison with other countries. Economy continues to grow modestly, but some indicators warn of a possible slowdown in the speed of the 2nd half.

Stock price Daimler AG, the world's third largest car manufacturer of class "luxury", grew by 1.8%, after reporting that second-quarter earnings before interest and taxes amounted to 2.46 billion euros, compared with forecasts for level 2 38 billion euros.

STMicroelectronics shares decline 3.70 point%, despite reporting the first profit in the last 11 quarters. The company also said that revenue fell 8.9% to $ 1.86 billion

The price of the world's leading manufacturer of paint products Akzo Nobel NV jumped 3.9%. Financial results for the 2nd quarter were better than market expectations. Operating profit increased by 10% to 353 million euros, with the consensus forecast of 340 million euros.

Repsol shares fell 0.2% amid reports that the Spanish oil and gas giant is considering buying Talisman Energy, to invest funds received as compensation for loss of share in the Argentine YPF.

Quotes securities Deutsche Bank AG fell 1.1%. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Federal Reserve Bank drew attention to the poor quality of reporting in the United States.

The value of shares Outotec - Finnish manufacturer of mining equipment - jumped 9.8%. British newspapers wrote on Wednesday that the company is ready to buy Outotec Wier at a price of 12 euros per share.

At that moment:

FTSE 100 6,821.24 +25.90 +0.38%

CAC 40 4,395.28 +25.76 +0.59%

DAX 9,797.17 +62.84 +0.65%

(index / closing price / change items /% change)

Nikkei 225 15,343.28 +127.57 +0.84%

Hang Seng 23,782.11 +394.97 +1.69%

Shanghai Composite 2,075.48 +21.00 +1.02%

FTSE 100 6,795.34 +66.90 +0.99%

CAC 40 4,369.52 +64.78 +1.50%

Xetra DAX 9,734.33 +122.28 +1.27%

S&P 500 1,983.53 +9.90 +0.50%

NASDAQ 4,456.02 +31.31 +0.71%

Dow Jones 17,113.54 +61.81 +0.36%