Investing.com - European stocks moved higher on Thursday, as investors awaited the European Central Bank’s policy decision due later in the day.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.27%, France’s CAC 40 added 0.16%, while Germany’s DAX 30 edged up 0.15%.
Later the ECB was expected to leave interest rates unchanged. However, speculation over potential easing measures lent support to European equities.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) jumped 1.27% and 1.19%, while Germany’s Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) rallied 1.04%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) and Unicredit (MI:CRDI) advanced 1.28% and 1.20% respectively, while Spanish banks BBVA (MC:BBVA) and Banco Santander (MC:SAN) climbed 0.69% and 0.92%.
Lufthansa AG (DE:LHAG) added to gains, with shares up 1.13% after the company was named best European airline in the annual World Travel Awards.
Elsewhere, Renault SA (PA:RENA) shares jumped 1.06% after the French automaker said it may stop offering diesel engines in most of its cars sold in Europe due to the cost of ensuring that diesel engines comply with tighter emissions regulations.
In London, FTSE 100 gained 0.49%, led by Micro Focus International (LON:MCRO), whose shares skyrocketed 20.36% amid reports the software company is set to buy former Autonomy assets from Hewlett Packard in a $8.8 billion deal.
Financial stocks were also on the upside, as the Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) climbed 0.71% and Lloyds Banking (LON:LLOY) advanced 0.76%, while HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) and Barclays (LON:BARC) rallied 1.11% and 1.16% respectively.
In the mining sector, stocks were also mostly higher. Shares in BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) gained 0.50% and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) jumped 0.90%, while Anglo American (LON:AAL) surged 1.21%.
Meanwhile, Admiral Group PLC (LON:ADML) saw shares tumble 1.32% after analysts at Macquarie reiterated their “underperform” rating on the stock.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.14% rise, S&P 500 futures showed a 0.17% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.13% gain.