Italian woes quell Fed cheer for European stocks

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June 5 (Reuters) - European shares opened flat to marginally
higher on Wednesday, as concerns about Italy's budget offset
hopes of an interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve to prop
up a slowing global economy.
Europe's main STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.1% after Wall
Street and Asian markets had both drawn comfort from U.S.
central bank chief Jerome Powell's promise to act "as
appropriate" to combat rising trade war risks. Investors took that as a shift from the "patient" approach
the Fed has taken in recent months, and a potential pointer for
the European Central Bank's own policy update on Thursday, where
low inflation is making the case for more stimulus. All eyes, however, were on Italy, with a local newspaper
reporting that Brussels will launch disciplinary procedures with
a letter stating that fiscal policy lacks prudence and could
expose the nation to a shock loss of market confidence.
Italy's FTSE MIB .FTMIB fell 0.6% and its banking index
.FTIT8300 dropped 1.2%.
The pan-European stock index posted its worst monthly loss
in over three years in May as trade tensions between the United
States and China showed little signs of easing, raising fears of
a slide into recession.
News from companies themselves was mixed.
Aluminium maker Norsk Hydro ASA's NHY.OL shares jumped
5.5% as its quarterly revenue and earnings beat expectations
although the company said a cyber attack in March would cost it
between 300 million and 350 million crowns. Austrian specialty steelmaker Voestalpine VOES.VI fell
2.4% after proposing a 21.4% dividend cut for its 2018/19
business year after operating profit fell by a third in the
fourth-quarter. French aviation company Dassault Aviation's AVMD.PA shares
rose 4.1% after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to "buy",
citing capital flexibility and inexpensive valuation.