Euro zone manufacturing eases again in Jan
Husqvarna tops STOXX 600 on Q4 sales beat
Novartis slips on weakness in key products
U.S. Fed meet due at 1900 GMT

Feb 1 Reuters European shares edged higher on Wednesday as industrial stocks gained, while investors awaited the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve39;s first policy meeting this year.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 was up 0.3 by 0943 GMT, after clocking its biggest January gain since 2015 at 6.7, on hopes of betterthanexpected corporate earnings and signs of economic resilience.

A survey by SP Global showed that the downturn in euro zone manufacturing activity eased further last month, price pressures alleviated and the fall in demand moderated.

Industrials stocks were among the top sector performers, up 0.8.

Sweden39;s Husqvarna jumped 5.6 to the top of the STOXX 600 after the Swedish gardening power tools maker reported betterthanexpected fourthquarter sales, while Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk rose 0.6 on strong 2023 sales growth expectations.

BBVA gained 1.4 after the Spanish bank39;s fourthquarter net profit rose 17.6 yearonyear, thanks to a strong performance in Mexico.

Swiss drugmaker Novartis fell 1 as analysts pointed to weakness in its key drugs Cosentyx and Zolgensma.

Earnings growth estimates for STOXX 600 companies during the fourth quarter have halved to 7.3 from 14.5 at the start of January, Refinitiv data showed on Tuesday.

The Fed is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rates by…