(Reuters) – European shares edged higher on Friday, with banks extending gains a day after the European Central Bank reinforced its fight against inflation with a rate hike, while higher metal prices supported mining stocks.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.6% by 0718 GMT, with banks climbing 1.3%. Miners rose nearly 3%, as prices of London copper were set for their best weekly gain in six against a softer dollar. [MET/L]
The ECB delivered an unprecedented 75-basis-point interest rate hike on Thursday, in its clearest signal yet that it is not backing down against soaring inflation.
Investors looked forward to a meeting by energy ministers from European Union countries later in the day, where they will figure out solutions from a long list of possible measures to shield citizens from sky-high energy prices as winter approaches.
(Reporting by Shreyashi Sanyal in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
