European stock markets rose while Asia was mixed on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve lowered interest rates but left investors wondering how many more cuts were in the pipeline.

Paris and Frankfurt stocks rose more than one percent, while London also edged up nearing the half-way stage.

That followed gains in Tokyo, and losses in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Investors awaited a Bank of England update on monetary policy Thursday, with the BoE widely expected to maintain its key interest rate at four percent with UK inflation stubbornly high.

"While the rate cut machine has whirred back into action for the US, it's expected to remain idle in the UK for a bit longer," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

The central banks of Norway and Canada both opted to cut interest rates

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