European Bourses Mostly Rise Intraday Ahead of Region's Central Bank Decisions

06:53 AM EST, 12/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Major European bourses were advancing mid-session Wednesday as investors await the region's central bank decisions after the final policy meetings for the year.

Wall Street futures were edging higher premarket, while Asian exchanges were mixed at Wednesday's close.

In regional news, annual inflation in Britain dropped in November for the second straight month, reaching its lowest level since March and reinforcing expectations of an easing in monetary policy.

Growth in the consumer price index eased to 3.2% in the 12 months to November from 3.6% in October, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday. Analysts had expected a smaller decline to 3.5%.

The British central bank, which targets 2% inflation over the medium term, will announce its monetary policy decision Thursday, when the key interest rate is widely expected to be cut by 25 basis points.

For the euro area, final data from Eurostat showed that annual inflation stood at 2.1% in November, unchanged from October.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.3% midday.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 0.1%, while the Stoxx 600 Banks Index was 1% higher. The Stoxx Europe 600 Insurance Index was up 0.6%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose by 1.6%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index advanced by 0.4%. The REITE, a European REIT index, was up 0.6% mid-session.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was slightly lower; the FTSE 100 in London rose by 1.5%; the CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.2%; and Spain's IBEX 35 was up 0.3%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were little changed at 2.86%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 2% at $60.11 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 97% at 14.65. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.

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