FTSE 100 down 0.03%; DAX up 0.26%; CAC 40 up 0.06% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milan, 09 May - European shares opened little changed in cautious trade as a four-day rally lost steam, with the Stoxx 600 index down 0.06%.

Uncertainty over the timing of potential US interest rate cuts kept sentiment in check after mixed signals from US policymakers, with a string of Federal Reserve officials warning that interest rates will remain higher for longer amid stubborn inflation, undermining expectations of rate cuts.

Investors now awaited more comments from Fed officials today and tomorrow and US inflation data next Wednesday for more clues on the US central bak's rate path.

Investors continued to monitor fresh earnings reports from European companies including Ferrovial, Telefonica, EDP, Enel, Pirelli and Salvatore Ferragamo.

Traders also awaited the Bank of England's latest interest rate decision due later today.

The central bank is expected to hold rates steady, but investors will be looking out for any signs of a shift in its monetary policy stance.

In European stock market dealings most sectors were mixed, with car makers leading the losses while oil and gad stock rose.

US stock futures pointed to a muted open after yesterday the Dow Jones Industrial Average wrapped its sixth straight positive session.

At 0730 GMT the FTSE 100 was down 0.03% at 8,351 points, the the Frankfurt DAX was up 0.26% at 18,536 points. The Paris CAC 40 was up 0.06% at 8,126 points, while in Milan the FTSE MIB was up 0.06% at 34,171 points and in Madrid the IBEX 35 was down 1.23% at 11,015 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 09-05-24 09:55:54 (0236) 5 NNNN