Investing.com - European stocks were mixed to higher, ahead of the European Central Bank's policy statement later in the day, while upbeat Chinese trade balance data continued to support sentiment.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 edged up 0.11%, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.25%, while Germany’s DAX 30 rose 0.23%.
The ECB was widely expected to hold off cutting rates, but some market participants expected the bank to flag the possibility of rate cuts later in the year.
Sentiment found support earlier, after official data showed that China’s trade surplus widened unexpectedly in December, adding to signs of recovery in the world’s second largest economy.
Chinese exports rose 14.1% in December from a year earlier while imports increased by 6%.
Financial stocks turned mostly higher, as shares in German lenders Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank rallied 1.74% and 2.49%, while France's Societe Generale surged 2.27% and BNP Paribas eased up 0.04%.
Peripheral lenders also posted sharp gains, with Italian banks Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo climbing 0.47% and 2.23%, while Spain's Banco Santander jumped 1.09%.
Elsewhere, Nokia tumbled 2%, weighed by the possible release of Apple’s cheaper iPhone at the end of this year.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 added 0.11%, after the Bank of England left its monetary policy unchanged.
Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton remained lower, sliding 0.61% and 0.72%, while rival Vedanta Natural Resources plummeted 1.40%.
In the financial sector, stocks were mostly higher. Barclays edged up 0.25% and HSBC Holdings climbed 0.61%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland jumped 1.43%. Lloyds Banking underperformed on the other hand, as shares slipped 0.22%.
Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer, the U.K.’s largest clothing retailer, dove 4.11% after it said same-store revenue at the general merchandise unit fell 3.8% in the 13 weeks ending December 29.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.19% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.23% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.24% gain.
Also Thursday, official data showed that French industrial production rose more-than-expected in November, ticking up 0.5% after a 0.6% decline the previous month.
Analysts had expected industrial production to rise 0.3% in November.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release the weekly government report on initial jobless claims.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 edged up 0.11%, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.25%, while Germany’s DAX 30 rose 0.23%.
The ECB was widely expected to hold off cutting rates, but some market participants expected the bank to flag the possibility of rate cuts later in the year.
Sentiment found support earlier, after official data showed that China’s trade surplus widened unexpectedly in December, adding to signs of recovery in the world’s second largest economy.
Chinese exports rose 14.1% in December from a year earlier while imports increased by 6%.
Financial stocks turned mostly higher, as shares in German lenders Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank rallied 1.74% and 2.49%, while France's Societe Generale surged 2.27% and BNP Paribas eased up 0.04%.
Peripheral lenders also posted sharp gains, with Italian banks Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo climbing 0.47% and 2.23%, while Spain's Banco Santander jumped 1.09%.
Elsewhere, Nokia tumbled 2%, weighed by the possible release of Apple’s cheaper iPhone at the end of this year.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 added 0.11%, after the Bank of England left its monetary policy unchanged.
Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton remained lower, sliding 0.61% and 0.72%, while rival Vedanta Natural Resources plummeted 1.40%.
In the financial sector, stocks were mostly higher. Barclays edged up 0.25% and HSBC Holdings climbed 0.61%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland jumped 1.43%. Lloyds Banking underperformed on the other hand, as shares slipped 0.22%.
Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer, the U.K.’s largest clothing retailer, dove 4.11% after it said same-store revenue at the general merchandise unit fell 3.8% in the 13 weeks ending December 29.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.19% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.23% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.24% gain.
Also Thursday, official data showed that French industrial production rose more-than-expected in November, ticking up 0.5% after a 0.6% decline the previous month.
Analysts had expected industrial production to rise 0.3% in November.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release the weekly government report on initial jobless claims.