European markets flat ahead of ECB decision

European bourses were marginally in positive territory this afternoon as exporters got some support from a slipping euro.

European bourses were marginally in positive territory this afternoon as exporters got some support from a slipping euro.

The pan-European FTSE Eurotop 300 index, which has traded in a tight range for nearly two months, was 0.3 per cent higher at 825.3, taking the recent rebound to 3 per cent in the last three days.

The Dublin market was putting in a slack performance and remained in the read all day. At 3.30 p.m. it was down more than 12 points on 4,225.69.

The European Central Bank is expected to cut interest rates on June 5th, with most analysts expecting a 50 basis points cut to 2 per cent as the growth in euro zone remains subdued.

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Frankfurt's Xetra Dax added 0.9 per cent to 2,946.6, the Paris CAC 40 rose 0.7 per cent to 2,969.8 and in London the FTSE 100 was flat at 4,071.2.

In New York the Dow Jones Indstrial Average edged 0.1 per cent higher to 8,800.1 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.4 per cent to 1,569.8 in early trade.