FTSE 100 up 0.22%; DAX up 0.57%; CAC 40 up 0.49% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milan, 20 Jun - European shares opened higher after yesterday's losses, resuming a recent rebound as investors monitored a string of central bank meetings for indications on interest rate moves. The Stoxx 600 index was up 0.31% in early trade.

Investors awaited the latest interest rate decision from the Bank of England due later today, with the central bank widely expected to hold rates steady at a 16-year high of 5.25%.

A majority of economists polled by Reuters forecast a cut in August, after the country's July 4 election.

Data showed yesterday that UK inflation fell to the Bank of England's target of 2.0% in May. The print is the last key economic measure ahead of national elections.

Meanwhile, the the Swiss National Bank cut rates by 25 basis points to 1.25%.

On the data front, flash consumer confidence figures from the eurozone for June are due today.

Helping support sentiment, US stock futures pointed to a slightly higher open, with key US benchmark indexes hitting fresh highs as the US markets prepared to reopen after yesterday's Juneteenth public holiday.

In European stock market dealings most sectors were higher.

At 0734 GMT, the London FTSE 100 was up 0.22% at 8,223 points, the Frankfurt DAX was up 0.57% at 18,170 points, the Paris CAC 40 up 0.49% at 7,607 points, while in Milan the FTSE MIB rose 0.67% at 33,442 points, and in Madrid the IBEX 35 was up 0.26% at 11,084 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 20-06-24 09:41:15 (0194) 5 NNNN