REUTERS/StaffSummarySummary Companies Bank stocks set to outperform European sectors for the monthFed expected to raise interest rates by 75bps on WednesdaySwedish c.bank surprises with full percentage point rate hikeSept 20 (Reuters) - European shares edged higher on Tuesday, boosted by banks, while expectations of another large interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve kept risk-taking bets in check.
The pan-European STOXX 600 (.STOXX) index added 0.1%, after a soft start to the week, with banks (.SX7P) climbing 1.6% by 0759 GMT as lenders tend to benefit from a high interest rate environment.
The U.S. central bank will likely deliver its third straight super-sized 75 basis point interest rate hike on Wednesday, toughening its stance on persistent inflation.
"It's all about central banks this week and it looks like the traders are actually pricing in both the Fed's rate hike and the interest rate hike from the Bank of England," said Erik-Jan van Harn, macro strategist at RaboResearch.
Shares of Bachem Holding (BANB.S) soared 9.0%, to the top of the STOXX index, after the Swiss biotech supplier signed two new contracts for peptides.