The FTSE 100 and European stocks finished mixed on Tuesday, struggling for most of the session ahead of the release of the week’s key EU inflation data.

The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) closed flat at 7,459 points while the CAC 40 (^FCHI) in Paris lost 0.2% to 7,248 points. In Germany, the DAX (^GDAXI) rose 0.1% to 15,984. The Stoxx 600 (STOXX) lost 0.3% after European Central Bank policymakers' comments dampened expectations of interest rate cuts next year.

Data on EU inflation is due on Thursday, with core inflation forecast at 3.9%, the lowest since the middle of last year.

Read more: Shop prices may rise again, say retailers as inflation threat looms

Across the pond, US stocks bounced back from a subdued start but gains were limited as investors remained cautious ahead of Federal Reserve officials' speeches that could offer some clues on the path of interest rates.

The Dow Jones (^DJI) rose 0.4% to 35,465 points. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) climbed 0.2% to 4,560 points and the tech-heavy NASDAQ (^IXIC) gained 0.3% to 14,278 points.

The Federal Reserve's favoured measure of inflation — personal consumption expenditures — is due on Thursday.

In Asia, the Hang Seng (^HSI) in Hong Kong tumbled 0.9% to 17,366 while the Shanghai Composite (000001.SS) rose 0.2% to 3,038 points. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 (^N225) also finished in the red, slipping 0.1% to 33,408 points.

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The Hang Seng was dragged lower by a 5.6% slump in shares of artificial intelligence software company Sensetime (80020.HK) following claims from short-seller Grizzly Research that the company was inflating its revenue figures.

Sensetime said the allegations were “without merit” and showed a lack of understanding of the company’s business and its financial reporting.

Meanwhile, oil prices rose amid expectations Opec+ would extend output cuts into next year.

West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) rose 2.6% and was trading at $76.707 per barrel. Brent (BZ=F) crude climbed 2.4% to $81.91 per barrel.

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