European Stocks Key Off U.S. Gains; Data Ahead

European stock markets climbed on Wednesday, taking inspiration from the prior day’s gains on Wall Street when the Nasdaq Composite closed above 4,000 for the first time since 2000.

Later in the day, attention turns to German GfK consumer confidence and the second estimate on U.K. economic growth in the third quarter.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.3% to 323.03, after closing at the lowest level in almost two weeks on Tuesday. Shares of Compass Group PLC added 1.7% after a well-received earnings report. United Utilities Group PLC gained 1.5% after lifting dividends.

Among country-specific indexes, Germany’s DAX 30 index rose 0.2% to 9,309.25, on track for an all-time closing high. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index put on 0.2% to 6,650.62 and France’s CAC 40 index picked up 0.3% to 4,209.85.

Source : Marketwatch