PARIS, April 27 (Reuters) - European stocks inched lower in early trade on Wednesday, halting a four-session winning streak after mixed corporate earnings while investors awaited clues on the U.S. Federal Reserve's exit strategy.
At 0719 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 0.1 percent at 1,144.62 points, retreating from a two-week high hit in the previous session.
"The end of QE2 is already priced in, so unless we get a bombshell, the impact on the market should be muted. If the Fed announces an extension of the programme, the market reaction might be negative because it will be seen as a sign that the economy isn't back on track," said Jacques Henry, analyst at Louis Capital Markets in Paris.
Ericsson rose 7 percent after posting strong earnings, while STMicroelectronics dropped 4.6 percent after results disappointed. (Reporting by Blaise Robinson)