Technology shares support European stocks with Fed meeting in focus

The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, December 13, 2021. REUTERS/Staff

Dec 15 (Reuters) - European shares rose on Wednesday helped by stronger technology and healthcare stocks, but weakness in the retail and energy sectors capped gains ahead of a Federal Reserve policy announcement.

The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX) closed 0.3% higher to end a five-session losing streak. Technology stocks (.SX8P) led gains, adding 1.3% after a recent bout of selling while healthcare stocks (.SXDP) climbed 1.1%

A disappointing earnings update from Zara owner Inditex (ITX.MC) weighed on retail shares (.SXRP) and, along with lower oil stocks (.SXEP), capped the broader gains.

Crude oil prices dropped for the third session on rising demand risks from the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. read more

Investors were cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision due at 1900 GMT as expectations are the central bank will hint at slowing its bond purchases.

"We do not expect a major hike cycle to start next year, as inflation peaks then, which should give the Fed more time to act and then see what the impacts are before being too aggressive," said Jeremy Gatto, a multi-asset portfolio manager at Unigestion.

"With Omicron uncertainty, and the big central bank meetings, it's going to mean more choppiness going into the weeks ahead."

The STOXX 600 is up about 1.7% so far in December, in what is typically a strong month for global equity markets.

London's FTSE 100 dropped 0.7%, a sixth consecutive decline and the worst losing streak since the pandemic hit in March 2020, on weakness in retail (.FTNMX404010), oil (.FTNMX601010) and travel stocks (.FTNMX405010).

Data showed British consumer price inflation soared to a more than 10-year high of 5.1% year-on-year in November ahead of the Bank of England's meeting on Thursday. read more

The European Central Bank is also meeting on Thursday, with policymakers expected to decide how to adapt the bank's regular asset purchase programme (APP) once the much larger pandemic-fighting PEPP scheme ends in March. read more

Sweden's H&M (HMb.ST) fell 2.8% after the company's quarterly sales matched expectations but analysts flagged sales in China as a concern. Sales at Inditex and H&M are back at pre-pandemic levels or better. read more

Support services provider DCC (DCC.L) jumped 9.0% after announcing its acquisition of Almo Corp for about $610 million.

Shares of IAG (ICAG.L) dropped 5.1% after the British Airways parent said it was in advanced talks to cancel its purchase of rival Air Europa from Spain's Globalia. read more

Swedish bank SEB (SEBa.ST) slipped 2.2% on being hit with a 511 million euro ($575 million) tax demand from Germany. read more

($1 = 0.8872 euros)

Reporting by Anisha Sircar in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirsten Donovan

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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