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May 8 Reuters Europe39;s benchmark stock index hit a record high on Wednesday, on continued cheer over strong earnings from the likes of beer maker AnheuserBusch Inbev and Germany39;s Siemens Energy, while investors also mulled the fate of major central bank rate cuts.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 rose 0.3 of 0830 GMT to a record high, following Tuesday39;s more than 1 jump.

The STOXX 600 has regained some lost ground, after losing steam in April, as corporate earnings have been resilient, the European Central Bank is confident of a likely first rate cut in June and as Middle East tensions are somewhat ebbing.

The ECB is in the best position among the majors to start cutting, Daniela Hathorn, senior Market analyst at Capital.com said.

However, ECB officials have flagged uncertainties around monetary policy easing beyond June, while across the Atlantic, doubts around the Federal Reserve39;s rate cuts loom large.

One rate cut isn39;t going to solve all the problems, but it definitely gives investors a feeling that the ECB is in tune with what39;s happening in the economy, Hathorn said.

German economic institute IW noted the economy will stagnate in 2024 and will continue to lag behind…