Europe opens higher with ECB's remarks in focus
Major stock markets in Europe opened higher on Thursday as traders are waiting for the European Central Bank's (ECB) latest interest rates decision and Monetary Policy Statement. Earlier, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG reported an annual rise of 8% in its sales in the first half of the year, while Unilever PLC's underlying sales saw yearly growth of 5% in the second quarter.
The DAX traded 0.74%, or 114 points higher at the opening, as Heidelbergcement AG expanded by 1.80%. The FTSE 100 rose by 0.14%, with 3i Group PLC increasing by 3.18%. The CAC 40 gained 0.52% as Publicis Groupe SA went up by 3.18%.
The euro stood flat against the dollar, changing hands for $1.17960 at 8:57 am CET. At the same time, the pound sterling grew by 0.17% against the greenback to sell for $1.37364.