European stocks extended gains on Wednesday, with the STOXX 50 up 0.5% and the STOXX 600 advancing 0.4%, as optimism grew over Fed's rate cuts next week and later this year, boosting investor confidence. The ECB is expected to leave borrowing costs unchanged on Thursday, though updated economic forecasts and guidance on the policy outlook will be closely watched. Geopolitical risks also remained in focus: Israel carried out strikes on Hamas targets in Qatar, while Poland intercepted drones that entered its airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine. Meanwhile, reports suggest US President Trump has urged the EU to impose 100% tariffs on India and China over their purchases of Russian oil, in a bid to pressure President Putin to end the war. In France, President Emmanuel Macron appointed S