London (AFP) - Global stock markets diverged on Tuesday as investors digested economic growth data and corporate results ahead of another round of central bank interest rate hikes.
Wall Street opened higher while European indices were lower in afternoon deals after Asian markets finished in the red.
Investors absorbed data showing that the eurozone economy grew by a slender 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter, confounding expectations of a contraction.
"The surprise growth...makes a technical recession across the eurozone an increasingly unlikely prospect," noted CEBR economist Karl Thompson.
The International Monetary Fund forecast that Germany and Italy would avoid recessions in 2023, though official data showed both economies contracted in the last three months of 2022.
France avoided a contraction in the fourth quarter, but French President Emmanuel Macron faced nationwide strikes and protests on Tuesday over his plan to reform pensions.
London stocks took a knock after the IMF said the UK economy would contract 0.6 percent this year as inflation remains stubbornly high.
That would make Britain the worst performer among the world's advanced economies, and compared with prior guidance for 0.3-percent growth.
It was also another busy day for company results, with oil major ExxonMobil posting record profits of $55.7 billion in 2022, Swiss bank UBS reporting better-than-expected quarterly earnings and music streaming service Spotify seeing an increase in subscribers but an annual financial loss.
Elsewhere Tuesday, Asian equities fell despite data showing a bounce in Chinese economic activity.
Traders shrugged off data showing China's factory activity expanded in January after four months of contraction as the economy reopened from strict Covid curbs.
Investors looked ahead to Wednesday when the Federal Reserve is due to announce another rise in US borrowing costs to tackle inflation.
Analysts expected a 25 basis-point lift, which would be less aggressive than December's half-point lift.
Investors are already speculating that slowing US inflation could allow for a possible rate cut towards the year's end, even though several policy board members have consistently pushed back against such a move, insisting they will not let up until prices are under control.
Traders will closely listen to any signals from Fed chairman Jerome Powell about future rate decisions.
"Powell is expected to strike a hawkish tone which is in contrast to market expectations over the Fed cutting rates near the end of 2023," said Lukman Otunuga, market analyst at online trading platform FXTM.
The Bank of England and the European Central Bank will both unveil their latest rate calls on Thursday.
"Given how inflation remains at uncomfortable levels in Europe, ECB hawks are set to take the lead on Thursday," Otunuga said.
Key figures around 1445 GMT
New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 33,777.22 points
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 percent at 7,749.38
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.3 percent at 15,081.29
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,067.31
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.2 percent at 4,151.64
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4 percent at 27,327.11 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.0 percent at 21,842.33 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,255.67 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0850 from $1.0851 on Monday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2314 from $1.2352
Euro/pound: UP at 88.10 pence from 87.85 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 129.86 yen from 130.39 yen
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.8 percent at $77.31 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.8 percent at $83.86 per barrel
