German inflation data points to peaking prices
European shares hit fresh ninemonth highs
Chinese shares buck declining trend
U.S. stock index futures firmer
Chorus of Fed speakers caps sentiment

LONDON, Feb 9 Reuters Stocks, crude oil and gold rose while the dollar eased on Thursday as investors sifted through earnings reports, German inflation data and Federal Reserve policymaker speeches for clues on how many interest rate hikes lie ahead.

On the corporate news front Credit Suisse Group reported its worst annual loss since the global financial crisis in 2008, sending its shares lower.

This was countered by betterthanexpected earnings from Siemens and Britain39;s AstraZeneca, helping to pierce uncertainty over the interest rate outlook.

A number of Federal Reserve speakers echoed Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday in saying that interest rates are set to go higher, capping risk sentiment, ahead of U.S. inflation data next week.

Sweden39;s central bank on Thursday raised its key interest rate by half a percentage point to 3, and forecast further tightening in the spring.

The STOXX index of European shares rose 0.8, after touching ninemonth highs on Wednesday as investors pinned hopes on peaking inflation and a major recession now looking less likely on the continent.

European markets are still fairly positive as the case for investing in the U.S. is much lower because valuations there are much higher and ability to grow earnings harder, said Mike Hewson, chief…