FTSE up 0.21%; DAX down 0.43%; CAC 40 up 0.21% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - London, 18 Jul - European shares closed higher after the European Central Bank left rates unchanged and indicated that a rate hike in September is 'wide open'.

Speaking after the policy decision, ECB head Christine Lagarde said that inflation is expected to fluctuate around current levels for the rest of the year and then decline towards the CB's target over the second half of next year.

"What we will do in September is wide open," Lagarde said.

Investors also assessed news that EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen won a second term at the helm of the European Union's executive arm.

The London FTSE 100 closed up 0.21% at 8,204.89 points, the Frankfurt DAX dropped 0.43% at 18,364.02 points, the Paris CAC 40 rose 0.21% at 7,586.55 points, while in Milan the FTSE MIB added 0.44% at 34,529.13 points, and in Madrid the IBEX 35 closed 0.37% higher at 11,145.99 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 18-07-24 18:08:23 (0645) 5 NNNN