European stocks traded higher Thursday, with dovish comments by Federal Reserve on interest rates and a slew of upbeat earnings updates boosting sentiment. <\/p>\n
Following the Fed’s slightly hawkish monetary policy announcement, Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted that the U.S. is not at a point where the Fed could start to taper.<\/p>\n
The pan European Stoxx 600 rose 0.3 percent to 463.27 after climbing 0.7 percent on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
The German DAX inched up 0.2 percent, France’s CAC 40 index climbed 0.6 percent and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 was up 0.8 percent. <\/p>\n
Royal Dutch Shell rallied 3.5 percent. The oil major raised its dividend and unveiled plans to buy back $2 billion of shares this year after reporting a jump in quarterly earnings.<\/p>\n
Anglo American shares soared 5 percent after the miner delivered a record half-year profit.<\/p>\n
Spirits maker Diageo advanced 1.2 percent after it reported a better-than-expected rise in full-year organic net sales growth.<\/p>\n
ArcelorMittal surged 3.6 percent. The steelmaker boosted its guidance for global steel demand after delivering its best quarter since 2008.<\/p>\n
Telecoms equipment maker Nokia soared nearly 8 percent. The company lifted its full-year profit forecast after reporting stronger-than-expected second-quarter operating profit. <\/p>\n
Plane maker Airbus jumped 3.6 percent after raising its guidance for profit and aircraft deliveries.<\/p>\n
MorphoSys AG advanced 1.5 percent. The biotech company said it regained the momentum in Monjuvi sales and the momentum will likely continue into Q3.<\/p>\n
On the flip side, electric utility EDF lost 3.7 percent in Paris after the government suspended an ambitious overhaul plan for the company due to disagreement with the European Commission.<\/p>\n
Hotel group Accor declined 2.5 percent after reporting an operating loss for the first half of the year.<\/p>\n
Telecom company Orange gave up 3.3 percent as it announced a 3.7 billion-euro ($4.4 billion) impairment on the value of its Spanish activities.<\/p>\n
Credit Suisse fell more than 3 percent after the Swiss banking giant posted a 78 percent fall in second-quarter net profit.<\/p>\n