European markets higher

European markets inched higher on Wednesday, tracking recent gains in U.S. markets that came on an apparent easing of trade-related tensions.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 0.3%. Thus far this week, the pan-European index is up 0.8%, a gain that has pulled it closer to break-even territory for the year. Currently, it is down 0.6% for 2018. The index is on track for its third gain in the past four sessions, and it is trading at its highest level since the 10 August.

The FTSE 100 was down 0.1%. The dip comes after its biggest oneday advance in about two weeks in Tuesday’s session. The FTSE remains near a two-week high. Germany’s DAX added 0.3% while the CAC 40 Index firmed 0.2%.

The gains in Europe followed an extended rally in U.S. markets, where major indexes have risen for three straight sessions and both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite Index have closed at records in each of them. Those gains have come on optimism that trade tensions between the U.S. and its major trading partners could be easing.

The U.K. is slated to leave the EU on March 29, and both the EU and British parliaments need to ratify the deal, which would regulate the U.K.’s relationship with the remaining 27 EU nations. Investors are worried over the prospect of a “no-deal Brexit,” where the March 29 date passes without any agreement on how various regulations will change in the transition.

On Tuesday, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May insisted that a socalled no-deal Brexit “wouldn’t be the end of the world” days after Philip Hammond, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, warned it would add to U.K. borrowing costs and curb growth.

Japan’s Nikkei share average rose for the seventh straight session on Wednesday as technology shares advanced along with their Wall Street counterparts. The Nikkei ended the day up 0.15 percent.