LONDON/MILAN: European shares rose on Wednesday after a choppy start as investors awaited the outcome of a crucial rate-setting meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve for clues about the market's near-term direction.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst index was up 0.66 percent by 1200 GMT, after climbing 2.9 percent in the previous session following a rebound in crude oil prices.
Zodiac Aerospace fell 3.6 percent, the worst performer in the FTSEurofirst 300, after saying it was behind schedule in supplying toilets for the Airbus A350.
The company is only just emerging from a year-long crisis over delays in production of aircraft seats that disrupted some airplane deliveries.
Many investors remained cautious before the conclusion of the Fed's two-day policy meeting, after which the U.S. central bank is expected to announce its rate hike in nearly a decade.
Although only a modest quarter-point increase is expected, that would signal the beginning of an end to an expansionary monetary policy that has supplied a tidal wave of liquidity to markets globally.
"After yesterday's rally investors are staying on the sidelines ahead of the Fed's policy decision later today. Regardless of the outcome we think the environment for European stocks will remain supportive in the next 6-12 months thanks to an accommodative monetary policy," said BayernLB senior equity analyst Christoph Gmeinwieser.
"We do not see the Fed's interest-rate turnaround triggering a lasting trend reversal on the down-side ... but temporary market turbulence needs to be factored in," he added.
Casino surged 7.7 percent, among the best performers in Europe, after the French retailer said late on Tuesday it plans to raise more than 2 billion euros in 2016 by selling part of its real estate portfolio in Thailand and Colombia as well as its Vietnam operations.
Dixons Carphone rose 2.8 percent after Britain's largest electricals and mobile phone retailer beat forecasts with a 23 percent rise in first half profit, helped by a strong performance in its home market where it outperformed rivals.
"The benefits of the Dixons-Carphone merger are becoming increasingly evident, as the group forges ahead on revenues and profit," Richard Hunter, head of equities at Hargreaves Lansdown, said.
"The like-for-like increases are particularly hard earned against difficult comparatives. Quite apart from an early boost from Black Friday sales to the festive season, it continues to grow market share and earnings, with notable performances coming from the home market as well as the Nordics."
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