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STOXX 600 up 0.1

April 2 Reuters European stocks kicked off the second quarter slightly higher, with focus on a string of economic data points including inflation data from Germany that could provide clarity on the timing for interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank.

The continentwide STOXX 600 inched up 0.1 by 0853 GMT on Tuesday as investors returned to markets following an extended weekend and the Easter holiday.

Energy stocks did the heavy lifting with a 1.9 rise as crude prices climbed on signs that demand may improve in China and the United States, and on growing concerns of a widening conflict in the Middle East that could affect supply from the region.

UK39;s FTSE 100 and Norway39;s benchmark index, that houses oil companies, rose 0.3 and 2.0, respectively.

Germany39;s DAX slipped 0.1, ahead of consumer price index data due at 1200 GMT, where economists polled by Reuters expect a 2.2 annual rise in March, compared with a 2.5 increase in the month before.

The data will follow preliminary figures that showed inflation fell in six economically important German states in March.

The fall in CPI inflation in the major German states in March all but confirms that both German and euro zone HICP inflation will come in lower than expected in March, Franziska Palmas, senior Europe economist at Capital Economics,…