European stocks end day mixed

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) - European stocks closed mixed Thursday amid decisions by major central banks.

The US Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday six more interest rate increases for the remaining of 2022 after it raised rates by 25 basis points between 0.25% and 0.50%.

The Bank of England (BoE) raised its interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.75% to fight record inflation.

While the figure is its highest since March 2020, right before the coronavirus was declared a pandemic, it marks the third consecutive meeting for bank where a rate hike was announced.

The STOXX Europe 600, which includes around 90% of the market capitalization of the European market in 17 countries, rose 0.45% to 450.49 points, the UK's FTSE 100 increased 1.28% to 7,385.34 points.

And France's CAC 40 ticked up 0.36% to 6,612.52 points, while Germany's DAX 30 index fell 0.36% to 14,388.06 points.

Italy's FTSE MIB 30 index decreased by 0.62% to 24,133.23 points.

Euro area annual consumer inflation hit a new high of 5.9% in February, according to the statistical office of the EU.

February's final reading was up from 5.1% in January and 0.9% in February 2021, said Eurostat.