European stocks trim early gains after US CPI data

By Sruthi Shankar, Siddarth S and Shristi Achar A

(Reuters) -European stocks pared early gains on Thursday after U.S. September inflation rose by more than expected, while Novo Nordisk's kidney drug trial success helped lift Denmark's benchmark index to a record high.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.1%, after earlier hitting a three-week high.

"Today's US CPI number was not necessarily enough to keep the bullish enthusiasm going," said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers.

U.S. consumer prices (CPI) rose 0.4% in September compared to forecasts of a 0.3% rise from economists polled by Reuters. On an annual basis, CPI rose to 3.7% versus estimates of 3.6%.

Energy stocks climbed 1.3%, leading sectoral gains, after oil prices rose on expectations that U.S. interest rates had peaked. [O/R]

Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk shares jumped 4.2% and touched a fresh record high after the Danish drugmaker had reported early signs of success in delaying the progression of kidney disease in diabetes patients.

The broader OMX Copenhagen 20 hit a record high and closed 2.3% higher.

Longer-dated eurozone bond yields and U.S. Treasuries crept higher after the U.S. CPI data, having fallen earlier in the session. [GVD/EUR] [US/]

Rate sensitive utilities and real estate stocks fell 0.7% and some 1% respectively.

Minutes from the European Central Bank's September meeting, released on Thursday, showed a division among policymakers when they opted to raise the deposit rate to a record 4%, but signalled an end to the tightening cycle.

Media stocks jumped 0.9% to a fresh 22-year high, with advertising group Publicis hitting a record high after raising its 2023 sales and margin forecasts.

In Britain, Restaurant Group shares surged 36% after an Apollo Global owned and managed vehicle announced the acquisition of the Wagamama owner for 506 million pounds ($623 million) in cash.

Halfords shares closed at a two-month high, after Betaville reported there has been takeover interest.

Meanwhile, Barclays dropped 3.1%, underperforming the wider market, with several sources attributing the fall to comments by the bank's CEO about the broader sector outlook.

(Reporting by Sruthi Shankar, Shristi Aachar A and Siddarth S in Bengaluru; Editing by Varun H K and Alexander Smith)