Flat European stock markets await inflation figures

European stock markets opened flat on Tuesday, with investors digesting a mixed bag of corporate earnings and awaiting inflation figures from the United States later in the day.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was little changed in early trading, while the German DAX was down 0.1% and the French CAC 40 was up 0.1%.

The FTSE 100 index in London was closed for a public holiday.

Investors were cautious ahead of the release of US inflation figures later in the day, which are expected to show a further increase in price pressures.

A higher-than-expected inflation reading could raise concerns about the Federal Reserve's ability to tame inflation without raising interest rates too quickly, which could hurt economic growth.

In corporate news, shares of German software company SAP fell 2.2% after the company warned of a slowdown in new software license sales next year.

Shares of French luxury goods group LVMH rose 1.3% after the company reported strong sales growth in the first nine months of the year.

The euro was little changed against the US dollar, trading at $1.005.

Brent crude oil was up 0.4% at $92.5 a barrel.