European shares end holiday-affected session higher as bond yields ease
For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window
U.S., euro zone inflation data due Friday
Bakkafrost down after virus found at farming site
Markets shut in U.S., UK
STOXX 600 up 0.3%
Updated at 1550 GMT
By Khushi Singh and Shashwat Chauhan
May 27 (Reuters) -European stocks closed slightly higher on Monday and government bond yields eased, amidst hints of upcoming interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank (ECB), though trading activity was light as some key global markets were shut.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX closed 0.3% higher, in touching distance of an all-time high hit earlier this month.
Key policymakers at the ECB said the bank has room to cut interest rates as inflation slows but must take its time in easing policy, even if the direction of travel is already clear.
"It remains to be seen how the data will turn out. However, the environment suggests that inflationary pressure will ease in both the eurozone and the U.S.," Rainer Singer, analyst at Erste Group wrote in a note.
"The ECB is very likely to cut interest rates in June. The Fed is not yet ready."
Government bond yields across the continent eased, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year bund DE10YT=RR last at 2.547%. GVD/EUR
Spotlight this week would be on a reading of May consumer prices for the euro zone due on Friday, while individual inflation readings from Germany, Spain and France will also be released throughout the week.
The ECB looks set to start easing interest rates in its upcoming meeting next week, with bets showing an over 90% probability of a rate cut, according to LSEG data. 0#ECBWATCH
U.S. inflation data, also due on Friday, could help traders assess the timing and numbers of possible rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year.
Trading was light in absence of U.S. and UK participants as markets there were shut for a public holiday.
Most of the major STOXX 600 sectors closed higher, with utilities .SX6P leading the charge with a 1.1% jump, while automobiles .SXAP added about 1%.
On the data front, a survey showed German business morale stagnated in May, falling short of a forecast for improvement. Germany's benchmark stock index .GDAXI closed 0.4% higher.
Amongst individual stocks, Alstom ALSO.PA gained 5.6% after the French train maker set terms of a planned 1 billion-euro ($1.08 billion) rights issue as part of broader actions to repair its finances.
Shares of salmon farmer P/F Bakkafrost BAKKA.OL shed 2.5% slip after the ISA virus was confirmed in two pens at farming site A-19 Vágur.
Reporting by Khushi Singh and Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Sohini Goswami, William Maclean
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
