Mixed earnings cap gains in European shares ahead of ECB decision

div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpReuters – European shares held steady on Thursday after a mixed batch of earnings, while investors waited to hear from the European Central Bank amid risks to economic growth from rising inflation.p

pThe panEuropean STOXX 600 index was little changed by 0722 GMT following a strong finish on Wall Street and gains in Asian shares. Euro zone shares edged 0.2 higher.pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

pBirkin bag maker Hermes gained 2.2 after its quarterly sales beat estimates, lifted by strong appetite for its luxury accessories, particularly in the United States and Europe.p

pTravel & leisure stocks gained the most among sectors, with lowcost airline Wizz Air up 5.3 despite a gloomy forecast.p

pSwedens Ericsson, under fire for its handling of a bribery investigation in Iraq, slumped 8.7 after it warned of a potential fine by U.S. regulators and reported a fall in firstquarter core earnings.p

pThe ECB decision, due at 1145 GMT, could provide a clearer schedule for the end of its bond purchases programme and subsequent interest rate hikes. p

pIt is lagging behind most other major central banks, which started raising interest rates last year.p

pAmong other stocks, Italian airport and motorway operator Atlantia gained 5.3 after the holding company of Italys Benetton family and U.S. investment fund Blackstone said they will spend up to 12.7 billion euros 14 billion to take the company private.p