Investing.com - European stocks were mostly higher on Thursday, after the Federal Reserve's latest policy statement lent support, while markets awaited the outcome of an upcoming vote on Scottish independence.
During European morning trade, the DJ Euro Stoxx 50 added 0.16%, France’s CAC 40 edged 0.10% higher, while Germany’s DAX rose 0.32%.
In its monthly policy statement, the Fed reiterated that it expects rates to remain on hold for a "considerable time", after its bond purchasing program ends, but it also outlined in more detail how it will start to raise short term interest rates when the time comes.
The Fed cut its monthly asset purchase program by another $10 billion, keeping the program on track to finish next month.
Speaking at the bank’s post-policy meeting press conference Chair Janet Yellen stressed that the timing of any change in interest rates is dependent on the strength of the economic recovery.
Investors were also eyeing the European Central Bank, which was set to announce the result of its first targeted-lending program later Thursday.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PARIS:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PARIS:SOGN) climbed 0.52% and 0.57%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank (XETRA:DBKGn) rose 0.35%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy's Unicredit (MILAN:CRDI) and Intesa Sanpaolo (MILAN:ISP) added 0.16% and 0.45% respectively, while Spanish banks BBVA (MADRID:BBVA) and Banco Santander (MADRID:SAN) edged up 0.04% and 0.21%.
Elsewhere, Bayer (XETRA:BAYGN) surged 4.01% amid reports the German chemical and pharmaceutical company plans to spin off its plastics unit.
In London, FTSE 100 edged down 0.10%, weighed by losses in the mining sector.
Bhp Billiton (LONDON:BLT) slipped 0.25% and Rio Tinto (LONDON:RIO) declined 0.48%, while Randgold Resources (LONDON:RRS) and Fresnillo (LONDON:FRES) tumbled 1.48% and 1.54%.
Meanwhile, TUI Travel (LONDON:TT), up 3.86%, led gains on the index after it announced last week the decision to unite with German parent company Tui AG (XETRA:TUIGn) in a €6.5 billion merger that will create the world’s largest tourism business.
Financial stocks added to gains, as HSBC Holdings (LONDON:HSBA) edged up 0.12% and Barclays (LONDON:BARC) gained 0.50%, while Lloyds Banking (LONDON:LLOY) and the Royal Bank of Scotland (LONDON:RBS) advanced 0.75% and 1.06% respectively.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady open. The Dow 30 futures pointed to an 0.03% uptick, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.04% gain, while the NASDAQ 100 futures indicated a 0.06% loss.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to produce reports on initial jobless claims, building permits, housing starts and manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region.