European stocks were mixed Wednesday as traders digested a slew of new corporate earnings.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 hovered 0.2% above the flatline by early afternoon trade, with basic resources adding 1.9% while oil and gas stocks fell 1%.
Shares in Asia-Pacific were also mixed in Wednesday trade after the winning streak on Wall Street petered out.
Meanwhile, investors are also monitoring process on a Covid-19 stimulus package stateside. House Democrats on Monday unveiled the details of a relief proposal that included $1,400 direct checks with faster phase-outs than previous bills.
Back in Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to announce that Germany will extend its lockdown until March 14 amid concerns over new strains of the coronavirus.
Earnings in focus
It’s a busy day for earnings in Europe with Air Liquide, Metro, Thyssenkrupp, Siemens Energy, Heineken and Equinor all reporting before the bell.
At the top of the Stoxx 600, Dutch payment processing firm Adyen climbed 9.3% after a strong fourth-quarter earnings report.
-CNBC