Key facts
- European shares edged higher on Wednesday.
- The STOXX 600 index was up 0.4% at 645.04 points by 0708 GMT.
- Investors are awaiting euro zone PMI data.
- Aerospace and defence stocks led sectoral gains.
- Energy stocks rose 0.8% as oil prices declined.
- KWS shares fell 6.1% after missing net sales estimates.
European shares edged higher on Wednesday as a retreat in oil prices supported investor sentiment, while attention turned to key economic data. The benchmark pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.4% at 645.04 points by 0708 GMT, with most major regional stock markets also trading higher.
Investors were awaiting S&P Global's flash September purchasing managers' index (PMI) survey for the euro zone, which is expected to provide insights into the health of the region's economy.
Aerospace and defence stocks led the gains across sectors, with Saab and Exosens among the top performers. Energy stocks also rose 0.8% as oil prices extended their decline, influenced by the prospect of increased Gulf supplies following Saudi Arabia's restart of a key pipeline.
In individual stock news, German seed producer KWS shed 6.1% after its annual net sales fell 3% to €1.63 billion ($1.86 billion), missing IBES estimates. Dutch payments processor Adyen saw its shares slip roughly 2% after announcing Klarna's Niclas Neglen as its next chief financial officer, effective February 1, 2027.