Europe Shares Regain Traction, Go Higher

European markets traded volatile on Thursday, but stocks moved off earlier lows to trade rise, shaking off a clutch of downbeat euro-area data.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index (XX:SXXP) +0.00% rose 0.5% to 240.79, led by oil and banking stocks.

The FTSE 100 index (UK:UKX) +1.00% was especially strong, up 0.8% to 5,306.32, as heavyweight HSBC Holdings PLC (UK:HSBA) +1.00% HBC -1.24% rose 1.4% and BP PLC (UK:BP) +2.00% BP +0.18% rose 1.7%.

The French CAC 40 index (FR:PX1) +0.00% rose 0.5% to 3,019.72, led by a 2% rise for Credit Agricole SA (FR:ACA) +0.61% , but retailer Carrefour SA (FR:CA) -2.01% fell 1.6%.

The German DAX 30 index (DX:DAX) +0.00% lagged with a 0.3% gain to 6,302.94, as E.On AG (DE:EOAN) -0.56% rose 1.7%, but Infineon Technologies AG (DE:IFX) -3.34% dropped 1.4%.
This news has been reported by Market Watch.