Yahoo Finance

• AkzoNobel, Danske Bank, Ericsson, Novartis and Easyjet are among the companies reporting.

• Upcoming data includes the U.K. and euro zone’s latest inflation numbers, due at 9.30 a.m. and 10 a.m. London time, respectively.

European shares rose Wednesday morning, carrying on the positive sentiment seen overnight on Wall Street.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.4 percent higher with almost every sector in positive territory. Technology led the gains, up by more than 2 percent, on earnings. Ericsson ERNT-HR rose 9 percent after reporting second-quarter results at the higher-end of its guidance.

Tele2 topped the gains, up by 9 percent, on earnings. It reported results above forecasts and raised its guidance for 2018. Meanwhile, paper and pulp maker BillerudKorsnas was off by 15 percent, after disappointing results.

On Wednesday, investors will be focused on Brussels and on Alphabet GOOGL shares. Media reports suggest the U.S. tech giant Google might be hit with its biggest ever regulatory fine as the European Commission presents the findings of an eight-year probe into the company’s operating system for mobile phones. The EU's Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager is due to speak at midday London time.

Earnings

Danske Bank DANSKE-DK shares fell 6 percent after results missed analysts' expectations. EasyJet EZJ-GB said Wednesday that its profits will soar this year amid the collapse of other airline rivals and renewed strikes at Air France. The stock was up by 4 percent. Tele2 B TEL2.B-SE , the Swedish mobile operator, rose 12 percent on upbeat results and a higher forward guidance.

Aside from earnings, market sentiment followed the optimism stateside. U.S. stocks jumped Tuesday following confident remarks by the Jerome Powell .

During his address to Congress, Powell downplayed concerns over the economic impacts of a trade war and added that, ultimately, if the White House managed a world of lower tariffs that would be positive for the economy.

Back in Europe, Olli Rehn, the newly- appointed Finnish bank governor and European Central Bank member, said that the central bank should not tie its hands too early when it comes to what it might do in the future. In an interview to Reuters, Rehn said any monetary policy decision should depend on incoming data.

In the U.K. Theresa May narrowly avoided a defeat in Parliament over future trade links with the European Union, after it leaves the bloc.

UK inflation steady

Data released Wednesday showed U.K. inflation holding steady in the month of June at 2.4 percent on the year. Sterling fell further against the dollar following the data release, to trade about 0.5 percent lower.