Europe shares: European shares linger near record levels, airlines rise

European stocks held steady near all-time highs, with investors holding off on taking big bets ahead of a policy decision from the European Central Bank and US inflation reading later this week.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was flat in early trading, just short of a record high of 455.66 hit in the previous session.

Airlines, including Air France KLM, Lufthansa and British Airways-owner IAG, rose more than 1 per cent after the US CDC said it was easing travel recommendations on 110 countries and territories.

Spanish retail giant Inditex rose 1.3 per cent after reporting a first-quarter net profit of 421 million euros ($513 million) that easily beat analysts’ expectations.

French food group Danone slipped 1.5 per cent after RBC downgraded the stock to “under perform”.

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