London - Europe's main stock markets rose at the start of trading on Wednesday before a key interest rate announcement in the United States and an annual budget in Britain.
London's benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 0.3% to 6 159.87 points compared with Tuesday's close.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index added 0.4% to 9 971.04 points and the Paris CAC 40 won 0.3% to 4 486.70.
"Announcements in the UK and the US are the main drivers for the markets today," said Nour Al-Hammoury, chief market strategist at ADS Securities.