By Investors Hub
European stocks are little changed in cautious trading on Tuesday as Catalan worries persist and investors await speeches by several Federal Reserve officials this week for clues on the outlook for interest rates.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy gave the leader of Catalonia until Thursday to clarify whether he was withdrawing his plan to declare independence from Spain.
The euro extended losses after the Austrian electorate handed a victory to the center-right People’s Party. The British pound drifted higher against the dollar after a gauge of U.K. inflation hit a five-year high in September, adding to views that the Bank of England will raise interest rates next month for the first time in a decade.
The ZEW Centre for Economic Research’s economic sentiment index for Germany rose less than expected in October while Eurozone inflation held steady in September, as initially estimated, separate reports showed.
While the French CAC 40 Index is just above the unchanged line, the German DAX Index is up by 0.1 percent and the UK’s FTSE 100 Index is up by 0.3 percent.
Credit Suisse shares have risen amid reports that activist investor RBR Capital has launched a campaign to break up the Swiss investment bank.
Infineon shares have also rallied after the German chipmaker said it has corrected a flaw in the encryption used for secure products.
Aerospace giant Airbus has jumped more than 2 percent after it agreed to acquire a majority stake in Bombardier’s C Series jet program.
Publishing and education company Pearson has soared as much as 7 percent after the British company raised its profit forecast.
On the other hand, laboratory equipment maker Sartorius has fallen sharply after cutting its full-year revenue and profit guidance.
