STOXX 600 up 0.2
Realestate, healthcare stocks top gainers
Aixtron drops on China export controls
US markets closed for holiday

July 4 Reuters European shares were rangebound in thin trading on Tuesday, with a lack of fresh economic data from the region and uncertainty around the direction of global interest rates keeping investors cautious.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 index held steady at 461.99 points by 0856 GMT, trading in a tight range as investors weighed hawkish signals from central bankers against data pointing to slowing global growth.

Top central bankers have maintained their focus on bringing inflation back to their target levels, even in the face of slowing growth in the U.S. and the euro zone, adding to uncertainty about future global monetary policy steps.

Data in the U.S. and EU is increasingly pointing to the growing risk of slowing economic activity but where both the Fed and ECB European Central Bank continue to raise the spectre of higher interest rates to come, said Stuart Cole, chief macro economist at Equiti Capital.

Consequently, I think we may see the market start to view the gains in stock prices made so far this year as worth capturing and that valuations will be lowered going forward.

Earlier in the day, Australia39;s central bank held interest rates steady, but reiterated its warning that further tightening might be needed to cool prices.

Analysts also pointed to a light economic data calendar and thin trading volumes influencing…