European markets close higher as investors digest earnings, dovish Fed comments
European stocks closed higher on Thursday as investors digested a fresh round of major corporate earnings and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s reiteration of its dovish policy stance.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally closed up about 0.5%, with basic resources and autos shares leading the gains, climbing 2.4% and 2% respectively.
Shares in Asia-Pacific broadly advanced overnight as Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index continued to rebound sharply from a two-day slump earlier in the week.
On the data front, euro zone economic sentiment notched a record high in July, according to estimates from the European Commission. However, the rate of monthly increase slowed consumer optimism pulled back, potentially signaling an imminent peak.
The Commission’s monthly survey rose to 119.0 points in July, the highest since data collection began in 1985 and up from 117.9 in June.
Reference: CNBC
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