European stock prices rose slightly this morning, but investors remain cautious as an agreement between Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress on the budget is still not in sight.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European stocks strengthened by 0.2 percent to 1,260 points by 9:30 AM.
The London FTSE was nearly unchanged compared to yesterday around 9:30 AM, while the Frankfurt DAX and Paris CAC indices rose by about 0.2 percent.
Investor restraint is a result of the approaching deadline by which the U.S. Congress is expected to pass the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins on October 1.
If an agreement between Republicans and Democrats is not reached by the end of September, government services will not be able to be funded.
There is also no agreement in sight regarding the increase in the allowed level of government borrowing, which should be reached by mid-October for the government to meet all its financial obligations.
On the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Nikkei index fell by 0.3 percent to 14,760 points this morning.
