Europe markets open higher with more U.S. inflation data due; Ericsson up 8%

Reaction to the historic French and U.K. elections dominated the start of the week, but attention has moved to a flurry of inflation data.

On Thursday, the U.S. consumer price index declined more than expected to 3% annually, down from 3.3% in May.

Combined with “modestly dovish” comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell earlier in the week, the inflation print left money markets pricing in a more than 90% chance of a September interest rate cut from the world’s biggest central bank, with another before the end of the year.

The data will be followed up by the U.S. producer price index Friday, while German, French and Italian inflation readings will also be released.

Second-quarter earnings season is kicking into gear. Along with Ericsson’s results, Norwegian Air reported better-than-expected profit for the period, according to Reuters.

Stateside, several financial services giants including JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup report before the bell.