European stocks rise at open

London - Europe's stock markets rose at the start of trade on Wednesday, the eve of a critical European Central Bank (ECB) monetary policy meeting that is forecast to launch a radical economic stimulus policy.

Investors are now firmly expecting that the Frankfurt-based European Central Bank will decide on Thursday to begin a sovereign bond-buying programme, known more widely as quantitative easing.

In initial deals, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of top companies won 0.39% to 6 645.60 points, Frankfurt's DAX 30 climbed 0.13% to 10 270.33 points and the CAC 40 in Paris gained 0.20% to 4 455.01.

The region's main indices had also advanced on Tuesday, winning a boost from German data and expectations of ECB stimulus, while investors also awaited key elections in Greece.

"Tomorrow's ECB verdict remains top of the agenda from a global markets perspective and any disappointment could inject a degree of panic, but at least for now the FTSE 100 is finding the confidence to power its way higher," said analyst Tony Cross at trading firm Trustnet Direct.