Europe Asia News

According to analysts, the UK’s FTSE Index is set to open up 0.36%, Germany’s DAX up 0.42%, France’s CAC 40 up 0.33% and Italy’s FTSE MIB up 0.62%.

It will be a busy week for European investors as the European Central Bank holds its final policy meeting of the year on Thursday, with interest rates expected to remain at 2%.

Across Europe, meetings of EU councils and key data releases are scheduled throughout the week, alongside policy meetings of the ECB, the Bank of England, Riksbank and Norges Bank.

ECB President Christine Lagarde told the Financial Times that after raising the annual GDP growth forecast to 1.2% in September, the central bank could raise growth forecasts again in December.

Markets also found modest support from comments by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who said progress had been made in Berlin talks on Sunday aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.