European Stocks Close Higher Ahead Of Fed, BoE Policy Announcements

European stocks closed slightly higher on Wednesday after a cautious session as investors digested the latest batch of regional economic data and awaited the Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement due later in the day, and the Bank of England's policy announcement on Thursday.

The Fed is widely expected to cut interest rate by 25 basis points. The central bank's summary of economic projections and Chair Jerome Powell's comments are in focus.

The Bank of England is expected to leave rates unchanged.

The pan European Stoxx 600 gained 0.15%. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 edged up 0.05% and France's CAC 40 climbed 0.26%, while Germany's DAX closed down 0.02%. Switzerland's SMI ended down 0.87%.

Among other markets in Europe, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain and Sweden ended higher.

Finland, Iceland, Norway, Portugal and Turkiye closed weak.

In the UK market, Melrose Industries climbed nearly 3%. IAG, British Land, Airtel Africa, Ashtead Group, Informa, Sage Group, HSBC Holdings, JD Sports Fashion, Lloyds Banking Group, IHG, Natwest Group, Berkeley Group Holdings, Standard Chartered and Rolls-Royce Holdings gained 1 to 2%.

Entain closed down by about 2.7%. Beazley, AstraZeneca, Persimmon, Hiscox, Rio Tinto and National Grid lost 1 to 1.6%.

In the German market, Infineon rallied more than 2%. Commerzbank, Volkswagen, Daimler Truck Holding and Sartorius gained 1 to 1.7%.

Symrise, Hannover Rueck, Beiersdorf, Henkel, E.ON and Munich RE lost 1 to 1.7%.