World Stocks Tread Water as Traders Eye Fed Pause Prospects

World Stocks Tread Water as Traders Eye Fed Pause Prospects
The London Stock Exchange Group offices are seen in the City of London on Dec. 29, 2017. Toby Melville/Reuters
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LONDON—European stocks started Tuesday mixed, as soft U.S. economic data reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve may skip an interest rate hike when it meets next week.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.1 percent to 460.40 at 0830 GMT. In the previous session, the index dropped as data pointing to tepid U.S. business activity sparked profit-taking following gains in the prior week. Germany’s DAX was flat, while London’s FTSE dipped 0.3 percent.