European Stocks inches Slightly Higher After Dovish Fed Indications

Following three rate cuts in the past five months, The Federal Reserve (Fed) held rates steady at its last policy meeting of 2019 on Wednesday however; they signaled that rates would remain accommodative with no hikes expected in 2020.

Following the decision, Stocks in Asia mostly inched higher led by a 1.26% jump for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index, while mainland Chinese shares offered a more mixed picture.

The latest monetary policy decision of The European Central Bank (ECB) will announce on Thursday afternoon, marking a debut for new President Christine Lagarde.

Investors will be watching closely for hints on future policy decisions and indications as to whether Lagarde will continue in the same vein as her predecessor, Mario Draghi.

Back in Europe, voters head to the polls Thursday in the U.K.’s second general election since the landmark vote to leave the European Union in 2016. The election promises to be pivotal for the fate of Brexit and the country’s economic policy.

Investors worldwide are also monitoring trade negotiations between the U.S. and China ahead of Sunday’s deadline for new tariffs on $160 billion in Chinese goods.