FX.co ★ European Stocks Inch Higher

European equities finished marginally higher on Wednesday, with gains in heavyweight financials offsetting weakness in other sectors. The Euro STOXX 50 advanced 0.3% to 6,475, while the STOXX Europe 600 edged up to 657.

Deutsche Bank rose 4.3%, leading the financial sector after launching a €500 million share buyback. UniCredit added 2.5% ahead of a meeting between CEO Andrea Orcel and the German finance minister to discuss Berlin’s conditions for selling its stake in Commerzbank.

Industrial names also outperformed, with Safran and Rheinmetall each gaining more than 2%, extending the strong momentum seen in the sector in the previous session. In contrast, SAP fell 3%, pressured by downbeat signals from Intuit’s earnings in the US.