European stocks rise as investors await US response to Iran peace offer and key earnings reports.

European stock markets are expected to open higher, driven by investor anticipation of the US reaction to Iran's peace proposal involving reopening the Strait of Hormuz if the US lifts its blockade and the war ends. Key earnings reports from companies like Novartis, Airbus, BP, and Barclays are also in focus. Meanwhile, oil prices edged up amid ongoing uncertainty about the war's outcome. Central banks including the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and Bank of England are set to hold important meetings this week, with the Fed's decision possibly marking Jerome Powell's final meeting as chair before a leadership change in May. These developments are crucial as they impact inflation and growth expectations globally.