PARIS (dpa-AFX) - The European markets are trading higher on Thursday, following a weak session on the previous day. Investors in the region chose to focus on earnings news, even as oil firms were under pressure.
On the economic front, final data from Destatis showed the harmonised index of consumer prices, or HICP, was unrevised in October. The annual HICP inflation slowed to 0.7 percent in October, confirming the flash estimate, from 0.8 percent in September.
Meanwhile, France's EU measure of inflation unexpectedly accelerated in October after easing in September, figures released by statistical office INSEE revealed. The HICP rose 0.5 percent annually following 0.4 percent rise in September. Economists had forecast the figure remain steady at 0.4 percent.
China's industrial production and retail sales growth slowed unexpectedly in October, while fixed investment grew less-than-expected, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.
The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone bluechip stocks is adding 0.79 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, is gaining 0.45 percent.
The German DAX is gaining 0.96 percent, the French CAC 40 is rising 0.76 percent and the FTSE 100 index of the U.K. is advancing 0.36 percent. Switzerland's SMI is rising 0.66 percent.
In Frankfurt, Adidas is gaining 2.8 percent and Lanxess is rising close to 2 percent.
Deutsche Telekom and Merck KGaA are up around 1.8 percent each. Merck KGaA raised its sales forecast for the full year.
Symrise, a fragrances and flavors manufacturer which reported 9-month results, gained more than 4 percent.
Utility RWE said its operating result for nine months was hurt by weak production and sales amid lower prices and negative weather conditions. The stock fell 3.4 percent. Peer E.ON also is down 1.1 percent.
In Paris, Credit Agricole is gaining 3.4 percent and Societe Generale is rising 1.6 percent. BNP Paribas is up around 1 percent.
Alstom is adding 3 percent, Carrefour is up 2 percent and Publicis Groupe is gaining 1.8 percent.
Orange, Vivendi and Renault are notably higher.
In London, WM Morrison Supermarkets is gaining 2.7 percent and Hargreaves Lansdown is adding 2.2 percent.
SabMiller is gaining 1.7 percent. The brewer reported increased profit for the third quarter.
Meanwhile, oil firms were under pressure. Tullow Oil is down 1.4 percent and Royal Dutch Shell is falling 1.3 percent. BP is marginally lower.
Philips is gaining around 2 percent in Amsterdam. Morgan Stanley raised the stock to 'European Best Ideas List.'
Ahold, which reported third-quarter results, is moderately lower.
KBC Groep is climbing 6 percent in Brussels, after third-quarter profit topped forecast.
The Asian stocks ended a lackluster session mixed, after regulators in the U.S. and Europe fined five major global banks a total of $3.4 billion for conspiring to manipulate foreign-currency markets. A slew of lackluster Chinese data also weighed on the markets.
In the U.S., futures point to a higher open on Wall Street. In the previous session, stocks ended a choppy outing largely unchanged, with the Dow and S&P 500 posting modest losses after a series of record highs, as investors sold financial shares after global regulators fined five major banks for currency manipulation.
Crude for December delivery is losing $0.33 to $76.85 per barrel, while gold is adding $1.6 to $1160.7 a troy ounce.
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