European markets nudged fractionally higher Tuesday as investors awaited comments from central bank officials including Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.
European markets
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was choppy through the session and provisionally closed up 0.15%. Oil and gas stocks climbed 2.8% as household goods shed 0.9%.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 was the only major index in the green, up 0.35% as banks and mining stocks gained. Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 both fell around 0.1%.
U.S. stocks were lower in early trade as investors braced themselves for the latest commentary due from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
Markets interpreted as dovish a slew of Powell's comments during last week's press conference following the Fed's monetary policy meeting and stocks rallied. His appearance today could offer more clarity on where rates are headed, or clarify some comments made after last week's 25 basis point rate hike.
Stocks in the Asia-Pacific region closed mixed as investors digested the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate hike.