LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: Futures tick higher

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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES TICK HIGHER

European equity futures are mostly higher on Wednesday as markets look to rebound from a soft performance the day before.

Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1 are up 0.3%, Futures on the DAX FDXc1 and CAC FCEc1 are up 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively.

There's slight outperformance in the UK with FTSE futures FFIc1 up 0.7%. British stocks could be getting a boost from a weaker pound after soft inflation figures kept the door open for an interest rate cut from the Bank of England later this week.

Corporate news is relatively light heading towards the end of the year, although Britain's Bunzl BNZL.L warned that its operating margin was expected to be down slightly year-on-year in 2026.

Meanwhile energy names could be in focus as oil prices have jumped after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered "a total and complete" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

(Samuel Indyk)

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UK INFLATION FINAL HURDLE BEFORE BOE VERDICT CLICK HERE