European shares fall; US Fed rate verdict in focus
The pan-European STOXX 600 was down 0.3%, as of 0813 GMT, while Germany's blue-chip index fell 0.5%.
German equities had jumped on Tuesday after the country's parliament approved plans for a massive spending surge to revive economic growth and scale up military spending.
European aerospace and defence index, the beneficiary of higher defence spending prospects, jumped 0.7% to a record high.
Long-term growth prospects from fiscal reforms also enabled Barclays to raise its year-end target for the STOXX 600 index.
Meanwhile, the Fed is widely expected to keep rates on hold later in the day. A similar move is also expected from the Bank of England on Thursday.
Basic resources led losses among sectors, falling 0.7%, followed by European banks, which lost 0.5% after closing at an all-time peak in the prior session.
In other stocks, Traton dropped 6.3% after its parent Volkswagen said it had sold a 2.2% stake in the truckmaker for 360 million euros ($393 million).
(Reporting by Nikhil Sharma; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
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Focus on currency pairs you're familiar with. Understanding their historical behaviour and key levels will help you make informed decisions amid the chaos. Focus on currency pairs you're familiar with. Understanding their historical behaviour and key levels will help you make informed decisions amid the chaos. Set stop-losses religiously. Volatility spikes can lead to rapid price swings. Always use stop-loss orders to cap potential losses, and consider tightening them during major releases like NFP or central bank announcements. Volatility spikes can lead to rapid price swings. Always use stop-loss orders to cap potential losses, and consider tightening them during major releases like NFP or central bank announcements. Limit exposure. Avoid over-leveraging your positions. With so many events, a single unexpected headline could trigger a cascade of stop-outs. Keep position sizes modest to weather potential storms. Avoid over-leveraging your positions. With so many events, a single unexpected headline could trigger a cascade of stop-outs. Keep position sizes modest to weather potential storms. Stay informed, but don't chase noise. Follow reliable news sources and economic calendars, but avoid reacting impulsively to every headline. Use tools like Octa's trading platform, which boasts a proprietary feed of curated expert insights, to stay updated with real-time market data. Follow reliable news sources and economic calendars, but avoid reacting impulsively to every headline. Use tools like Octa's trading platform, which boasts a proprietary feed of curated expert insights, to stay updated with real-time market data. Diversify risk. Consider hedging strategies or trading less correlated pairs to spread risk. For example, if you're trading USD pairs, balance exposure with a non-USD pair like EUR/GBP. The most important takeaway? Stay focused and avoid distractions. The flood of data and headlines can be overwhelming, but successful traders stick to their strategies, trade pairs they understand, and use stop-losses to protect their capital. Emotional decisions in a week like this can lead to costly mistakes. This week is shaping up to be a historic one for Forex markets. With a dense lineup of economic releases, central bank decisions, and the ongoing tariff saga, traders face both opportunity and risk. By staying disciplined, managing risk effectively, and keeping a close eye on key events, you can navigate this volatile week with confidence. ___ Disclaimer: This press release does not contain or constitute investment advice or recommendations and does not consider your investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. Any actions taken based on this content are at your sole discretion and risk—Octa does not accept any liability for any resulting losses or consequences. Hashtag: #Octa The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Octa Octa is an international CFD broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools. The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including improving educational infrastructure and funding short-notice relief projects to support local communities. In Southeast Asia, Octa received the 'Best Trading Platform Malaysia 2024' and the 'Most Reliable Broker Asia 2023' awards from Brands and Business Magazine and International Global Forex Awards, respectively.
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