European stock markets advance at open

LONDON: Europe's main stock markets rose at the start of trading on Wednesday before a key interest rate announcement in the United States and an annual budget in Britain.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 0.3 percent to 6,159.87 points compared with Tuesday's close.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index added 0.4 percent to 9,971.04 points and the Paris CAC 40 won 0.3 percent to 4,486.70.

"Announcements in the UK and the US are the main drivers for the markets today," said Nour Al-Hammoury, chief market strategist at ADS Securities.