The pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.25 percent higher with almost every sector trading in positive territory.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS advanced 0.5 percent to extend its gains, hitting a 2-1/2-month high for a second straight day. Japan's Nikkei average .N225 rose 0.9 percent.
The Nikkei .N225 gained 0.9 percent to 22,823.26, the highest closing price since May 22, and it comfortably sat above its 25-day moving average of 22,580.76.
· China stocks slipped on Thursday as consumer and healthcare firms took a breather after recent gains.
The blue-chip CSI300 index closed 0.2 percent down at 3,831.01 while the Shanghai Composite Index also lost 0.2 percent to 3,109.50 points.
Referenece: Reuters, CNBC