FX.co ★ European Markets Poised to Open Lower

European stock markets were poised for a weaker start on Wednesday following subdued expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts, spurred by the latest U.S. inflation figures. Investor sentiment was further dampened by renewed trade tensions, as U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of implementing tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors as early as August 1. In the European arena, focus shifts to the UK's June inflation data, which could influence forecasts for the Bank of England's monetary policy. On the corporate side, Dutch chip equipment manufacturer ASML reported Q2 earnings and net bookings that exceeded expectations, indicating ongoing robustness in the semiconductor sector. In premarket trading, futures for Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 fell by 0.3% and 0.1%, respectively.