Italy39;s Poste raises dividends after quarterly profit leap
Nivea maker Beiersdorf slides on results miss
U.S. PCE data for Jan due later today

Feb 29 Reuters European stocks edged higher on Thursday, buoyed by upbeat earnings reports, while German stocks touched fresh records after early readings showed inflation fell in several of the country39;s economically important states.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 index inched up 0.1, with construction and materials stocks leading the charge among sectors.

CRH climbed 7.1 after the Dublinbased building materials producer forecast core profit growth of 6 to 10 in 2024, while beating the profit target for 2023.

Eiffage added 4.4 after the French construction group reported betterthanexpected fullyear free cash flow and a strong order book.

The German DAX climbed 0.4 to touch a record high after preliminary data showed inflation fell in six economically important German states in February, suggesting inflation is on its downward trajectory.

Investors are awaiting U.S. personal consumption expenditures PCE data the Federal Reserve39;s preferred inflation measure for clues on the timeline for U.S. rate cuts.

Inflation by this measure is expected to show a tick upwards but a largerthanexpected move could cause fresh jitters and concern that monetary easing will be pushed further into the distance, said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets, Hargreaves Lansdown.

Meanwhile, EUwide inflation data is slated for release…