(Reuters) – European stocks hit record highs on Thursday as optimism grew around a global economic rebound fueled by stimulus after the US Federal Reserve signaled it was in no rush to tighten policy monetary.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.3%, according to data from Google Finance, adding to gains recorded earlier this week when the index wiped out all its losses due to the pandemic.
Fed officials remain wary of the lingering risks of the coronavirus pandemic and have pledged to support the economy until its recovery is more secure, the minutes of the latest central bank policy meeting showed. Wednesday.
“A series of accommodating Federal Reserve meeting minutes further reassured investors that Jay Powell and the gang won’t be shutting off the stimulus taps anytime soon,” Spredex analyst Connor Campbell wrote in a morning note. .
Market players will now focus on the European Central Bank, which is expected to release its March meeting minutes at 11:30 a.m. GMT.
Investors have largely looked beyond news that several European countries have announced restrictions on the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine in young people, after a link was found to very rare blood clots.
Shares of the British drugmaker climbed 1.3%.
Dutch tech investor Prosus NV edged up after selling 2% of Chinese firm Tencent Holdings Ltd for $ 14.7 billion in the world’s largest block trade.
Chemicals maker Johnson Matthey jumped nearly 4% after forecasting annual profit to top market expectations and saying it began a strategic review of its healthcare business.
Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Edited by Subhranshu Sahu