By Pranav Kashyap
(Reuters) -European shares climbed 1% on Wednesday, driven by a raft of corporate updates, while heavyweight ASML led overall gains on report that the Dutch chip equipment manufacturer would be exempted from a new U.S. rule on foreign chip equipment exports.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index was trading at a two-week high of 519.42 points, as of 0821 GMT. The benchmark index has gained 1.5% so far this month.
Shares of ASML surged 6% after Reuters reported that a new U.S. rule on foreign chip equipment exports to China would exempt some allies, including the Dutch manufacturer.
The regional tech sector advanced 2.7%.
The aerospace sector traded 1% higher, with Airbus climbing 4% after the world’s largest planemaker unveiled its second-quarter results.
French benchmark CAC 40 Index gained 1%.
On the data front, French inflation accelerated to 2.6% in July, but was still below forecast.
Euro zone flash inflation data for July is due at 0900 GMT and will provide traders cues on the European Central Bank’s policy trajectory. Markets are anticipating two more 25-basis-point rate cuts this year and have priced a 65% chance of a September rate cut, as per LSEG data..
“The markets are betting on a September rate cut by the ECB and an in-line European inflation number plus the Fed keeping the door open to its first cut in September will solidify those,” Ben Laidler, head of equity strategy at Bradesco BBI said.
Taking centre-stage is the Federal Reserve that will conclude its two-day policy meeting where investors expect the U.S. central bank to lay out groundwork for a September cut.
“Fed chair Jerome Powell keeping the door open to a first September cut is equally as important to the ECB as the domestic inflation numbers,” Laidler added.
Among other central banks, the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee will meet on Thursday to take a call on British borrowing costs.
Other notable stocks moves include HSBC Holdings’ nearly 3.4% advance as the bank pledged to buy back $3 billion in shares after it reported a stable first-half profit.
Wolters Kluwer dropped 4.5% after the Dutch information services company reported its first-half results.
British drugmaker GSK dropped 1.8% after it missed vaccine sales in the second quarter.
(Reporting by Pranav Kashyap in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
