Fast Europe Open: Eurozone inflation, Fed minutes,

European markets will inherit a mostly positive, albeit quiet, session from Asia as investors wait for the release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s January meeting due later today.

Japan’s Topix ended 0.1 per cent higher while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.2 per cent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.8 per cent and China’s Shanghai Composite was up 0.1 per cent.

Futures tip London’s FTSE 100 to open flat, while the S&P 500 is expected to add 0.1 per cent, building on Tuesday’s record high close.

On the UK earnings front today are results from: Hays, Barratt, Petrofac, Weir Group, Lloyds, Serco, Fresnius, Indivior. Here is today’s economic calendar, which counts eurozone inflation and a second reading on UK GDP as highlights.

• 09.00: German Ifo survey
• 09.00: Italy CPI
• 09.30: UK GDP second reading
• 10.00: Eurozone inflation
• 11.00: BoE’s Cunliffe speaks
• 12.00: UK prime minister’s questions