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Sept 9 (Reuters) - European stock markets opened slightly
higher after data showed a surprise rise in German exports and
on firmer expectations of a stimulus by the European Central
Bank later this week.
Germany's trade-sensitive DAX index .GDAXI rose 0.2% after
data showed that seasonally adjusted exports rose 0.7% in July.
A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to a drop of 0.5%.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX was up 0.1% at
0715 GMT. Oil stocks .SXEP were the biggest boost to the
index, tracking crude prices higher. O/R
With euro zone inflation well below target, market
participants are betting that the ECB will cut its interest rate
on bank overnight deposits for the first time since 2016 when it
meets on Thursday.