Investing.com - European stocks were higher on Thursday, as Janet Yellen's nomination at the head of the Federal Reserve supported equity markets, despite fresh expectations for a near-term end to the central bank's stimulus program.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rallied 1.16%, France’s CAC 40 jumped 1.07%, while Germany’s DAX 30 gained 0.81%.
Equity markets strengthened after President Barack Obama announced his nomination of Federal Reserve Vice Chairwoman Janet Yellen to head the U.S. central bank, easing uncertainty over U.S. monetary policy.
Separately, the minutes from the Fed’s September meeting said the decision not to begin tapering stimulus was a "close call," fuelling expectations that the bank will begin to scale back bond purchases in the next few months.
Investors remained cautious as a partial U.S. government shutdown continued into a tenth day, with Congress still deadlocked over the U.S. debt ceiling and the federal budget.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale gained 0.97% and 0.74%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank climbed 0.55%.
Among peripheral lenders, Spanish banks BBVA and Banco Santander jumped 1.46% and 1.76% respectively, while Italy's Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo surged 1.59% and 2.64%.
Elsewhere, Tryg A/S rose 0.39% after the Danish insurer posted quarterly profit that beat estimates.
Adding to gains, Givaudan added 0.16%, even though the fragrance maker posted third-quarter sales that missed forecasts.
In London, FTSE 100 climbed 0.64%, as U.K. lenders tracked their European counterparts higher.
Shares in HSBC Holdings advanced 0.78% and Barclays jumped 1.15%, while Lloyds Banking and the Royal Bank of Scotland rallied 1.15% and 1.81%.
In the mining sector, stocks were mostly higher as Rio Tinto climbed 0.47% and Glencore Xstrata gained 0.82%, while Polymetal jumped 1.35%.
Also on the upside, Hays Plc surged 2.42% after the recruitment agency said first-quarter net fees rose 2% from last year on a comparable basis.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.44% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.57% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.47% rise.
The European Central Bank was to publish its monthly bulletin later Thursday, while the Bank of England was to announce its benchmark interest rate.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rallied 1.16%, France’s CAC 40 jumped 1.07%, while Germany’s DAX 30 gained 0.81%.
Equity markets strengthened after President Barack Obama announced his nomination of Federal Reserve Vice Chairwoman Janet Yellen to head the U.S. central bank, easing uncertainty over U.S. monetary policy.
Separately, the minutes from the Fed’s September meeting said the decision not to begin tapering stimulus was a "close call," fuelling expectations that the bank will begin to scale back bond purchases in the next few months.
Investors remained cautious as a partial U.S. government shutdown continued into a tenth day, with Congress still deadlocked over the U.S. debt ceiling and the federal budget.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale gained 0.97% and 0.74%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank climbed 0.55%.
Among peripheral lenders, Spanish banks BBVA and Banco Santander jumped 1.46% and 1.76% respectively, while Italy's Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo surged 1.59% and 2.64%.
Elsewhere, Tryg A/S rose 0.39% after the Danish insurer posted quarterly profit that beat estimates.
Adding to gains, Givaudan added 0.16%, even though the fragrance maker posted third-quarter sales that missed forecasts.
In London, FTSE 100 climbed 0.64%, as U.K. lenders tracked their European counterparts higher.
Shares in HSBC Holdings advanced 0.78% and Barclays jumped 1.15%, while Lloyds Banking and the Royal Bank of Scotland rallied 1.15% and 1.81%.
In the mining sector, stocks were mostly higher as Rio Tinto climbed 0.47% and Glencore Xstrata gained 0.82%, while Polymetal jumped 1.35%.
Also on the upside, Hays Plc surged 2.42% after the recruitment agency said first-quarter net fees rose 2% from last year on a comparable basis.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.44% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.57% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.47% rise.
The European Central Bank was to publish its monthly bulletin later Thursday, while the Bank of England was to announce its benchmark interest rate.