EUROPEAN SHARES SEEK DIRECTION AHEAD OF CENTRAL BANKS MEETING
European stocks are flat as investors awaited updates from the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium for indication of when central banks will cut rates.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index 
SXXP was flat, with the chemical sector (.SX4P) sliding the most, down 0.5%, while defence stocks (.SXPARO) rose 1.5%, bouncing back after two days of declines.
Central bankers from around the world will be at Jackson Hole symposium and all eyes will be on Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech on Friday for clues on the U.S. monetary policy path.
U.S. Nasdaq Composite futures were flat 
NQ1! suggesting the stabilisation late in Wednesday trading will continue. U.S. tech names tumbled earlier this week.
In terms of single European stocks, UK’s WH Smith 
SMWH hit over 5-year low after profit forecast cut. Shares of British travel retailer slid 36%, their lowest level since March 2020.
(Joice Alves)
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