FTSE 100 up 0.65%; DAX down 0.20%; CAC 40 up 0.02% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milan, 18 Jul - European shares opened slightly higher in cautious trade, halting a three-day drop after losses in Asia and gains Wall Street overnight.

Investors remained on the sidelines as they awaited the European Central Bank's interest rate decision later today.

The markets are widely expecting the ECB to leave rates unchanged, but investors will be looking for clues on the path ahead for monetary policy.

Data from European Union statistical office Eurostat showed yesterday that in June consumer prices in the eurozone rose by 2.5% compared to the year earlier, down from 2.6% the previous month and in line with preliminary indications.

Traders also monitored earnings reports from major European companies including Novartis, Volvo, Ubisoft and Nokia.

In the region's stock market dealings most sectors were lower, with food and beverage and oil and gas shares leading the losses.

At 0745 GMT, the London FTSE 100 was up 0.65% at 8,241 points, the Frankfurt DAX was down 0.20% at 18,405 points, the Paris CAC 40 up 0.02% at 7,572 points, while in Milan the FTSE MIB was up 0.08% at 34,407 points, and in Madrid the IBEX 35 was up 0.29% at 11,137 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 18-07-24 09:51:49 (0217) 5 NNNN