European Stocks Gain Ahead of ECB Announcement

As the European Central Bank (ECB) prepares to announce its latest monetary policy decision, major European stock indexes have seen a positive trend in premarket trading. Investors are anticipating a rate cut of 25 basis points, which has contributed to the optimistic market sentiment.

Lufthansa Reports Earnings

In corporate news, Lufthansa has released its earnings reports for the fourth quarter and the full year, adding another layer of interest for investors monitoring the European markets.

European Leaders Convene for Defense Summit

Meanwhile, European leaders are gathering in Brussels for a special summit focused on defense. The meeting underscores the region's commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.

At 8:00 am CET, the DAX was up by 0.55%, the FTSE 100 by 0.40%, the CAC 40 by 0.52%, and the Euro Stoxx 50 by 1.18%. The euro and the pound remained stable against the dollar, trading at $1.08027 and $1.28990, respectively, at 7:59 am CET.