LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: futures up as ceasefire lifts risk appetite

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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES UP AS CEASEFIRE LIFTS RISK APPETITE

European futures are ticking higher on Wednesday as traders continue to find relief in the ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump between Iran and Israel.

Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1 are up 0.3% while futures on the DAX FDXc1 are 0.4 higher and FTSE FFIc1 are hovering just above flat.

The gains would continue a rally on Tuesday that saw the STOXX 600 rise 1.1%; its biggest daily rise since May 12. Ceasefire news also sent shares in airlines higher.

Markets have also been pouring over Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech to Congress on Tuesday in which he said higher tariffs could begin raising inflation this summer.

Elsewhere, UK retailer Halfords said it expects fiscal 2026 profit to tilt to the second half, and British defence engineering company Babcock BAB.L upgraded its medium-term guidance on Wednesday, expecting to benefit from the UK's plan to spend more on defence and energy security.

(Lucy Raitano)

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