The Dow has hit a new milestone this afternoon, but French stocks are under pressure as political crisis looms, says Chris Beauchamp, Chief Market Analyst at online trading platform IG.

London markets posted modest gains on Wednesday, following a key US inflation reading that showed relative stability in price rises in October.

European shares finished a tad lower on Wednesday as the spectre of high US tariffs threatened by President-elect Donald Trump dampened sentiment and prompted warnings from central bankers of the impact on growth and inflation.