Investing.com - European stock closed sharply higher Friday, as bullish euro zone economic data lifted shares in the wake of positive debt solution sentiment.
At the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.87%, France’s CAC 40 added 0.87%, while Germany’s DAX 30 soared 0.89%.
Sparking the rally, Germany’s Ifo business climate rose unexpectedly last month, data showed on Friday.
In a report, the Ifo Institute for Economic Research said its index of German business climate rose to 101.4, from 100.0 in the preceding month .
Analysts had expected the index to fall to 99.5 last month.
Sentiment remained mildly supported after German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday said an agreement to unlock a delayed bailout installment for Greece was still possible when euro zone finance ministers resume talks on Monday.
Talks between finance ministers and the International Monetary Fund ended without a deal on Tuesday, amid disagreements on how best to reduce the country’s debt to sustainable levels.
Also Thursday, data showed that Germany’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 46.8 in November, up from 46.0 in October and better than forecasts for a reading of 45.9.
The euro zone’s manufacturing PMI rose to 46.2 this month from 45.4 in October, above expectations for a reading of 45.6, while French factory data also improved more-than-expected.
Financial stocks were broadly lower, as shares in French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale fell 0.33% and 0.22%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank declined 0.63% and 1.97% respectively.
Meanwhile, EADS plunged 3.70% amid reports the German government is about to buy shares in the company from France. German and French governments aim to have 12% ownership each in EADS, while Spain will hold a 5% stake, according to German newspaper Handelsblatt.
On the upside, Delta Lloyd climbed 0.81% after the financial services company canceled the sale of its German operations to Nomura Holdings and said it continues to explore strategic options for the business.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 gained 0.49%, weighed by losses in oil and mining stocks.
Steel maker Evraz led losses, with shares dropping 0.84%, while mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton slid 0.86% and 0.26% respectively.
Oil and gas major Anglo American was also on the downside, with shares tumbling 0.84%, while rival BP fell 0.21%.
In the financial sector, stocks were steady to lower. Lloyds Banking inched down 0.02% and Barclays dipped 0.05%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland retreated 0.70%. HSBC Holdings overperformed on the other hand, with shares easing up 0.05%.
In the U.S., equity markets followed higher with the DJIA up 0.84%, the broad based S&P 500 higher by 0.84% and the tech heavy Nasdaq surging 1.11%
Trade volumes were expected to remain light, with U.S. markets closing early for Thanksgiving weekend.