Europe open: Shares lower on caution; Worldline surges on results

(Sharecast News) - European stocks were slightly lower at the open on Wednesday as investors stayed cautious ahead of a US inflation reading on Thursday. The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was down 0.04% at 496.14 in early deals with major bourses mixed. Thursday will see the release of US personal consumption expenditure data, seen by the country's central bank as a key measure of inflation.

In equity news, Worldline shares were down sharply as it warned of slower growth this year after posting a loss for 2023.

Shares in Vodafone were up as the telecoms giant confirmed advanced talks with Swisscom over the sale of its Italian business for €8bn in cash.

Denmark's Sydbank surged after the bank posted record annual profits.

UK housebuilder Taylor Wimpey was lower as it planned to build fewer homes this year and revealed a slump in profits.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com