STOXX 600 up 0.4; UK39;s FTSE 100 adds 0.6
Surprise fall in UK inflation adds to bets on BoE rate hike pause
German producer prices post biggest decline on record
Commerzbank flags rosier outlook for net interest income
Education group Pearson picks Microsoft exec Abbosh as CEO

Sept 20 Reuters European shares rose on Wednesday ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve39;s policy decision, with British stocks outpacing regional peers as investors reeled in Bank of England rate hike bets on cooling UK inflation data.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 index gained 0.4 after two consecutive sessions of losses, as healthcare shares climbed nearly 1 by 0809 GMT.

Commerzbank added 1.2 after the German lender39;s finance chief said on Tuesday it expects to earn net interest income of 8 billion euros 8.5 billion this year, as it benefits from higher interest rates.

Investor focus will be on the Fed39;s policy decision due at 1800 GMT, where the U.S. central bank is expected to stand pat on interest rates.

UK39;s exportoriented FTSE 100 gained 0.6 as the pound slid after British annual consumer price inflation CPI unexpectedly fell in August, pushing investors to scale back bets on BoE rate hikes a day before its policy announcement.

Despite the progress on disinflation, however, this latest CPI data is probably not enough to call an end to policy tightening at tomorrow39;s Bank Rate announcement, said Nick Rees, FX market analyst at Monex Europe.

MPC members will want to be sure this…