Euro Zone CPI due at 0900 GMT
Sweden39;s Riksbank cuts interest rates
German producer prices dropped 0.8 YoY
STOXX 600 up 0.2

Aug 20 Reuters European shares inched higher on Tuesday, but investors refrained from placing large bets ahead of key euro zone data, while energy stocks were the biggest laggard following a drop in global oil prices.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 index was up 0.2 after opening flat. The benchmark gauge touched a threeweek high in the previous session.

All regional bourses were trading in the green, except London39;s FTSE 100, which fell 0.5

German producer prices decreased 0.8 on the year in July, in line with forecasts. The German benchmark DAX ticked 0.2 higher.

Swedish shares ticked lower by 0.3 after the country39;s central bank cut its key interest rate by quarter of percentage point to 3.5.

Markets were focussed on July39;s consumer prices reading from the euro zone at 0900 GMT, for more light on the European Central Bank39;s rate path. Economists polled by Reuters expect it to remain steady at 2.6 from last month.

Technology stocks boosted the STOXX 600 with a 1.2 jump, led by a 2.5 jump in heavyweight ASML Holdings.

Oil and gas sector weighed the most, dropping 1.5, as crude prices edged lower on easing geopolitical risks and weak demand from China.

European equities are currently in a consolidation phase as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the key economic data that is set to drop through the week.

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