European Investors Await Rate Clues From Fed Minutes as Indices Cede Gains

European stock indices pare gains accrued earlier this week as investors await hints on the Fed’s next steps from the minutes of policymakers’ last meeting and as Bank of England minutes reveal the shattering of a consensus to keep rates steady at their historic low 0.5%. In London Balfour Beatty disappoints investors by batting away a sweetened $3.5 billion takeover proposal from fellow infrastructure services provider Carillion, whose only option now appears to be a hostile bid. And on mainland European bulletins from brewers Carlsberg and Heineken elicit contrasting responses.