European shares gain on boost from Kering; UK stocks shine

European shares rose on Wednesday on a boost from shares of Kering after top management changes at the luxury group, while London stocks firmed following data which showed a faster-than-expected slowdown in British inflation.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.2% by 0817 GMT, extending gains to the second straight session. Kering jumped 5.9% after the French luxury goods group on Tuesday named managing director Jean-Francois Palus as Gucci's new CEO and president for a transitional period, with incumbent Marco Bizzarri to leave on Sept. 23.

Boosting sentiment further, data showed British inflation fell by more than expected in June and was its slowest in more than a year. London's export-oriented FTSE 100 index advanced 1.1% as the pound slipped following the inflation data, which also sparked a rally in rate-sensitive property stocks in the UK.

The moves also pushed Europe's real estate index up 3.1%, making it the top sectoral gainer. However, Europe's mining sector dropped 1.5%, pressured by a 2% drop in shares of Antofagasta after the Chilean miner lowered its full-year copper output forecast.

Overall, second quarter earnings for STOXX 600 companies are expected to fall 9.2% from the previous year, according to Refinitiv IBES data. "In Europe, positive earnings have been a tailwind to the broader equity markets so far this year and that's something we struggle to see persisting through the back half of the year," said Laura Cooper, senior macro strategist for iShares EMEA at BlackRock.

"We're tilting away from luxury stocks and we like cyclicals where the earnings damage is already priced in like the energy sector." While focus has shifted to earnings, investors are also watching out for signals from policymakers to assess whether major central banks could halt rate hikes soon, following recent evidence of slowing inflation in the United States.

Traders have pared back rate hike expectations from the ECB after governing council member Klaas Knot

on Tuesday said further increases beyond July were "by no means a certainty". Among other firms reporting earnings, Wacker Chemie slipped 2.1% after the German chemicals maker on Tuesday cut its 2023 outlook, while shares of ASML Holding gave up most of their early gains driven by the chip equipment maker's upbeat forecast.