European equity markets rose for a second consecutive session on the 17th after the Bank of England held its policy rate steady and fully suspended gilt sales for six months, including an indefinite halt to long-dated bond sales. The move, effectively reversing its quantitative tightening (reducing central-bank holdings) policy, drove UK government bond yields sharply lower and pulled eurozone yields down. The STOXX Europe 600 gained 0.86% to 642.60, while the DAX, CAC 40 and FTSE 100 also advanced. Bank shares led in London, with the FTSE 350 Banks index up 1.59%. Lower crude prices further supported resource, auto and airline stocks, although Bilfinger and Raiffeisen Bank International suffered steep declines. Eurozone August HICP (consumer inflation measure) was revised down to 3.2% year over year from 3.3%, while markets continued to assess the risk of further tightening by the Bank of England, European Central Bank and Bank of Japan amid elevated energy prices and Middle East tensions.