European Stocks Edge Higher Amid Earnings and Fed Anticipation

European shares saw a slight increase on Wednesday as investors weighed corporate earnings and anticipated the U.S. Federal Reserve's impending rate decision.

The STOXX 600 index rose by 0.1% to reach 576.41 points by 0950 GMT, while the UK's FTSE 100 hit a fresh record high with a 0.5% uptick. Market speculation centers on the Fed's expected quarter-percentage point interest rate cut, with investors keen for forward-looking guidance from Chair Jerome Powell.

Positive corporate earnings reports bolstered sectors like autos and healthcare, led by notable gains in companies such as Mercedes and GSK. However, setbacks were observed in telecom and defense stocks. Furthermore, amid global developments, U.S.-China discussions and significant AI investments by Nvidia are also capturing market attention.