European shares edged higher on Wednesday, with technology and industrial stocks leading gains as global investor appetite improved, offsetting a mixed slate of corporate news. The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX), opens new tab gained 0.2% to 576.90 points by 0809 GMT, with major regional bourses such as Germany (.GDAXI), opens new tab and France (.FCHI), opens new tab up 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively.
Technology stocks (.SX8P), opens new tab were the biggest boost to the index, set to extend gains to a fourth session.
Industrial stocks (.SXNP), opens new tab followed, with defence stocks (.SXPARO), opens new tab in the lead rising 1%. Rheinmetall (RHMG.DE), opens new tab gained 2.1%, while Leonardo (LDOF.MI), opens new tab added 1.2%.
Russia and the U.S. did not reach a compromise on a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine after a five-hour Kremlin meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump's top envoys on Wednesday, adding to uncertainty over when a ceasefire would materialize.
On the macro front, investors are awaiting remarks from European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde for signals on the interest rate outlook, while a private payrolls data report is expected in the United States later in the day.
Among individual stocks, Inditex (ITX.MC), opens new tab rose 7% after the Zara owner reported a strong start to winter sales, while Sainsbury's (SBRY.L), opens new tab slid 3.7% after Qatar's sovereign wealth fund said it planned to reduce its stake in the British supermarket group
