European stocks opened higher Thursday as investors shrugged off worries over the U.S.-China trade dispute.
Britain's FTSE 100 was 22 points higher, Germany's DAX up 40 points and France's CAC rising by 12 points, according IG data.
Equities in Europe followed the positive sentiment globally, with Asian markets in the black on the back of sharp gains from Wall Street. The Dow notched its first record high since January while the S&P 500 reached an all-time high of its own, the first since August.
On the continent, Brexit continues to remain under the lenses of traders, after European leaders upped the pressure on British Prime Minister Theresa May at an informal summit in Salzburg, Austria. European Council President Donald Tusk said the U.K. leader's plan to withdraw from the European Union "will not work." May will next meet with EU officials on October 18.
Vote Vote to see results Total Votes:
Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding.
On the corporate front, engineering firm Smiths Group, insurer Lloyd's of London and the City of London Investment Trust are all set to report earnings.
Moreover, French GDP (gross domestic product) data, German manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers' index) figures and euro zone manufacturing and services PMI numbers are all due to be released this morning.
