(Reuters) -European shares traded slightly higher on Thursday, supported by strength in automakers and industrial metal miners as investors awaited the European Central Bank’s policy decision.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index edged 0.2% higher by 0704 GMT, extending gains from the previous session after Germany’s approval of a tax relief package lifted investor sentiment.
Investors remained cautious ahead of the ECB meeting later in the day, where a 25-basis-point interest rate cut is widely expected.
Industrial metal miners gained 0.6%, supported by firm copper prices, while automakers rebounded 0.5%, recovering from losses in the previous session.
Trade uncertainty remained unresolved as U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline for countries to present their improved trade negotiations passed without any concrete developments.
A defence spending commitment of 5% of GDP across the NATO alliance will happen, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters in Brussels ahead of a NATO defence ministers’ meeting.
Defence stocks in the bloc were broadly lower, with the index down 0.3%.
Among stocks, Eutelsat fell 13% after South Korea’s Hanwha Systems offered to sell its entire 5.4% stake in the company for about 78 million euros ($85 million).
Shares of London-listed Wizz Air plunged 22% after the budget carrier reported an annual operating profit that came in below analysts’ expectations.
(Reporting by Purvi Agarwal in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
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