European Stocks Edge Higher; UK Outperforms on New Vaccine By Investing.com – Investing.com

European Stocks Edge Higher; UK Outperforms on New Vaccine By Investing.com – Investing.com

© Reuters.







By Peter Nurse 

Investing.com - European stock markets edged higher Wednesday, as the global economy's outlook brightens, with the U.K. outperforming on the back of its speedy vaccination program and an endorsement of its prospects from the International Monetary Fund.

At 3:45 AM ET (0845 GMT), the in Germany traded 0.2% higher, the in France rose 0.3% and the U.K.'s gained 0.9%.

Investor sentiment has been boosted globally by continued support from central banks and an improving growth outlook.

The raised its 2021 global growth forecast late Tuesday to 6%, up from 5.5% less than three months ago, citing unprecedented public spending, primarily by the United States. It revised up its forecast for U.K. growth by 0.8 percentage point to over 5%.

The outlook for continental Europe is less impressive. Germany, the largest country in the European Union, is only seen growing 3.6% this year, according to the IMF, with its economy having faced different waves of infections and