The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.3% by 0707 GMT, after data showed overnight that U.S. producer prices unexpectedly fell in March. Real estate shares led the gains, rising 0.7%, while insurance-sector shares slid 0.6%.
The blue-chip STOXX 50 index held on to its 22-year highs hit on Wednesday, adding 0.3%.
Hermes added 0.9% as the Birkin bag makers sales
rose 23% in the first quarter, above market expectations.
TomTom jumped 11.8% as the Dutch navigation and
digital mapping company reported better-than-expected revenue
for the first quarter.
British veterinary pharmaceuticals firm Dechra ,
jumped 37%, as the company said it had entered into talks with
private equity group EQT for a possible offer in a 4.63 billion
pound ($5.80 billion) all-cash deal.
Investors will closely monitor U.S. earnings starting later
in the day with focus on big banks including JP Morgan Chase &
Co , Wells Fargo and Citigroup , as last
month's regional banking crisis and a slowing economy cast a
shadow over the banking sector.
(Reporting by Shubham Batra in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi
Aich)
