FTSE 100 up 0.06%; DAX up 0.25%; CAC 40 up 0.01% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - London, 22 Aug - European shares ended above the flatline after a series of data boosted hopes for a September rate cut by the European Central Bank.

The eurozone's purchasing managers' index (PMI) showed the European manufacturing sector fell to an 8-month low of 45.6 in August from a previous 45.8. Overall business activity however was surprisingly strong with the services sector PMI increasing to a four-month high of 53.3 from 51.9.

A reading above 50 signals expanding sector activity and a reading below 50 a contraction.

Euro zone wage growth, meanwhile, slowed last quarter, with wages rising by 3.55% compared to 4.74% in the first quarter, while consumer confidence in the bloc fell to -13.4 in August, down 0.4 percentage points from July.

Both sets of data signalled the central bank may now have more slack to cut rates at its next policy meeting.

The London FTSE 100 closed up 0.06% at 8,288.00 points, the Frankfurt DAX was 0.25% higher at 18,495.38 points, and the Paris CAC 40 rose 0.01% to 7,525.49 points, while in Milan the FTSE MIB was unchanged at 33,310.93 points and in Madrid the IBEX 35 closed 0.41% higher at 11,160.00 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 22-08-24 18:09:27 (0500) 5 NNNN