(Bloomberg) — European stocks advanced along with US stocks after the region’s retail sales data pointed to resilient consumer demand, bolstering confidence in the world’s biggest economy ahead of a highly anticipated interest-rate decision by the Federal Reserve.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced 0.4% at the close in London as US tech stocks rebounded from Monday’s slump. Retail and travel and leisure stocks led the advance in Europe, after Ryanair CEO said the airline has seen better bookings momentum since August. Healthcare and real estate stocks underperformed.
US retail sales excluding autos and and gasoline stations unexpectedly increased for a fourth month. Still, “the Fed is data dependent not data-point dependent,” said Blerina Uruci, chief US economist at T. Rowe Price, in a Bloomberg TV interview. “Into the decision it’s essentially a coin flip, I don’t disagree with market expectations” on whether it…
