Source: Sharecast
The Stoxx 600 index was down 0.29% in early deals to 521.36. The Fed on Wednesday held the federal funds rate at 5.25% to 5.5% and forecast only one rate cut this year, a far cry from the three cuts projected in its March meeting, although its “dot plot” chart indicated more cuts next year worth a full percentage point.
Meanwhile the latest US inflation data showed no change in May, beating expectations of a 0.1%rise. On an annual basis prices rose 3.3%, also below expectations.
In equity news, Atos dropped 14% after it announced the sale of its consultancy unit Worldgrid days after agreeing to a rescue deal that would dilute the holdings of existing shareholders.
Shares in UK money transfer firm Wise slumped almost 17% as it forecast lower income growth in the medium term.
Halma shares jumped as the company reported another year of record profit and revenue after a solid performance in the safety and the environment & analysis sectors.
Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com