UKX FTSE 100 Index

By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch

Next jumps on earnings, BMW weighs on auto makers after profit warning

Europe's main stock gauge closed in the black on Tuesday, after a weaker start to the week as major oil companies climbed on an extended run for crude prices and investors looked ahead to the start of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

What are markets doing?

The Stoxx Europe 600 gained 0.5% to 383.89, and has finished higher in seven of the past eight sessions.

Germany's DAX 30 added 0.2% to finish at 12,374.66, while France's CAC 40 finished less than 0.1% higher at 5,479.10, and has posted a gain in five of the past six sessions. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 advanced 0.7% to close at 7,507.56, gaining in four of the past five sessions.

The euro firmed up to $1.1761 (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-dollar-struggles-for-direction-ahead-of-fed-rate-hike-2018-09-25) versus $1.1749 late Monday, while the pound traded at $1.3163, up from $1.3119 late Monday.

What is driving the market?

A big driver for Europe was Brent oil which extended four-year highs (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/brent-oil-extends-climb-to-4-year-high-while-us-crude-set-for-longest-streak-of-gains-in-2-months-2018-09-25) from Monday. Looming U.S. sanctions on Iran have been a support for prices, while over the weekend, major oil producers showed no sign of boosting production, despite pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Need to know:All this bullishness over oil may be headed over a cliff (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-100-oil-may-be-bad-news-for-the-bulls-analyst-2018-09-25)

There was some optimism surrounding the Italian budget proposal, due to be presented by the country's government this week. There had been concerns that the budget could spark tensions between its politicians and the European Union (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-the-market-will-watch-for-in-italys-crucial-budget-proposal-in-the-coming-week-2018-09-21).

And that could be a risk factor for the euro, which got knocked down from a session high of $1.1775 after European Central Bank chief economist Peter Praet played down Monday's euro-moving comments from ECB President Mario Draghi. The euro rose Monday after Draghi said underlying eurozone inflation should strengthen.

Separately, President Trump on Tuesday blasted the Iranian regime in a speech at the United Nations in New York (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-today-president-praises-north-korea-rips-iran-in-speech-to-un-2018-09-25), while he praised North Korea's leader and took another swipe at the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Otherwise, investors were largely focused on a two-day Federal Reserve meeting that concludes Wednesday. The Fed is expected to deliver a 25-basis-point interest rate increase. Monetary-policy moves in the world's largest economy is closely watched because it influences trade in Europe.

Read:10-year Treasury yield rises above 3.10% ahead of Fed decision (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-year-treasury-yield-rises-above-310-ahead-of-fed-decision-2018-09-25)

What are strategists saying?

Among the oil gainers, BP PLC (BP.LN) "(BP.LN) shot up 2.9%, Total SA (TOT) (TOT) rose 1.3% and Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA.LN)(RDSA.LN) closed 2.4% higher.

Next PLC (NXT.LN) shot up 7.7%, a top gainer for the Stoxx Europe 600 as the retailer posted a healthy profit rise and better-than-expected sales in August (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/next-lifts-full-year-profit-guidance-2018-09-25).

On the other end, BMW AG (BMW.XE) slumped 5.4% and was a top decliner as the German auto maker cut its profit view, blaming new testing regulations in Europe and trade worries. (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bmw-cuts-profit-view-as-regulations-trade-bite-2018-09-25) (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bmw-cuts-profit-view-as-regulations-trade-bite-2018-09-25)BMW's losses weighed on other German auto makers, with Daimler AG (DAI.XE) down 1.8% and Volkswagen AG (VOW.XE)(VOW.XE) off by 1.9%.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 25, 2018 13:08 ET (17:08 GMT)

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