FTSE 100 up 0.48%; DAX up 0.22%; CAC 40 up 0.32% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milan, 24 Apr - European shares were slightly higher in cautious midday trade, rising for a third straight session, with the Stoxx 600 index up 0.15%.

The London FTSE 100 hit new all-time highs as it rose for a sixth straight session, with hopes of a forthcoming interest rate cut from the Bank of England helping lift sentiment.

Investors continued to monitor fresh earnings reports from European companies including Orange, Air Liquide, Iberdrola, Roche, Volvo and Heathrow as the earnings season continues in full swing.

Traders also digested Germany's Ifo Institute's survey on business conditions and expectations for April.

The business climate indicator in Germany rose to 89.4 points from 87.9 the previous month, according to the latest survey released by the Ifo think tank. The figure was above economists' expectations for a reading of 88.8. The current conditions indicator rose to 88.9 in April from 88.1 in March, while the indicator that measures expectations increased to 89.9 from 87.7. Investors now awaited the US personal consumption expenditures price index for March - the Federal Reserve's favored inflation gauge - due on Friday for fresh hints about the state of the world's biggest economy and outlook for interest rates ahead of the next Fed policy meeting on April 30-May 1.

At 1120 GMT the FTSE 100 was up 0.48% at 8,083 points, while the Frankfurt DAX was up 0.22% at 18,181 points. The Paris CAC 40 was up 0.32% at 8,131 points, while in Milan the FTSE MIB was up 0.10% at 34,398 points and in Madrid the IBEX 35 was down 0.13% at 11,060 points.

AAA-Ver

(RADIOCOR) 24-04-24 13:31:14 (0436) 5 NNNN