European shares slipped on Thursday as investors grappled with the prospect of an imminent rate hike by the European Central Bank and dimming hopes for a quick end to the Middle East conflict.
The pan-European STOXX 600 was down 0.6% at 583.8 points by 0809 GMT, and was on track to break a three-day winning streak.
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Policymaker Joachim Nagel told Reuters that the ECB has “an option” to raise interest rates at its April meeting, a day after President Christine Lagarde said that the central bank was prepared to act at any meeting to keep inflation at its 2% target.
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