European stocks traded higher on Thursday, with the STOXX 50 up 0.5% and the STOXX 600 gaining 0.4%, as corporate earnings remained the main driver of market sentiment. Investors also assessed the impact of additional US strikes on Iran, the accompanying rise in oil prices, and the Federal Reserve’s decision on Wednesday to leave interest rates unchanged for a fifth consecutive meeting.
Markets digested a new round of economic data showing that France’s economy rebounded in the second quarter, while growth picked up in both Spain and the Netherlands. At the same time, Spain’s inflation rate accelerated more than expected in July.
In corporate news, Shell rose 1.5% after reporting a sharp increase in profit, and L’Oréal added 3% following better‑than‑expected quarterly sales. Schneider Electric surged 5.5% after raising its full‑year guidance, while BBVA climbed 2.2% after posting an 11.4% increase in net profit. By contrast, Adidas slumped more than 16% after missing quarterly profit expectations.
