PARIS (Reuters) – The main European stock markets are moving in scattered order and with small differences at the start of the session on Wednesday, as the publication of monthly inflation figures in the United States approaches.

The Parisian CAC 40 index gained 0.09% to 7,403.59 points around 07:28 GMT, torn between the results of Crédit Agricole and Alstom.

In London, the FTSE 100 took 0.11% and in Frankfurt, the Dax fell 0.09%.

The EuroStoxx 50 index is up 0.05%, the FTSEurofirst 300 0.08% and the Stoxx 600 0.03%.

The monthly report on consumer prices, which the US Department of Labor will publish at 12:30 GMT, will determine whether inflation continued to slow in April in the United States.

It could also provide some guidance on further monetary policy from the Federal Reserve, which hinted at a possible pause in its rate hike campaign following its meeting this month.

The Reuters consensus gives a CPI index up 5% year on year last month, as in March, and 5.5% excluding energy and food products, after 5.6% a month earlier.

In addition, investors are also keeping an eye on the US debt record.

President Joe Biden and Republican leaders in Congress, led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, remained divided on raising the debt ceiling following a meeting at the White House on Tuesday, as the risk of a default on June 1 looms.

In business news, Crédit Agricole published quarterly results that beat expectations, driven by the drop in its cost of risk and trading activities. Its stock climbed 4.86%.

Alstom, which postponed its medium-term objectives for a year, fell by 2.16%. Moody’s lowered its rating to “BAA3” from “BAA2” previously.

Casino gives up 2.45% after the deterioration of its credit rating by Standard & Poor’s, which evokes a risk of default.

In Frankfurt, Siemens Healthineers lost 6.94% after the 30% fall in its quarterly operating profit while Continental granted itself 3.91% after the publication of higher results.

(Laetitia Volga, edited by Blandine Hénault)

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