EU stocks cautiously higher as economic recovery hopes take hold

EU stocks edged higher Thursday morning as investor focus swings to the potential economic recovery and earnings season gets underway.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.3% in early trade, with tech stocks jumping 1.7% to lead gains while utilities slid 0.7% lower.

European stocks look set to follow overnight action in Asia Pacific, where markets advanced on the back of a continued rally in mainland China, bolstered by the release of Chinese inflation data.