European markets open higher as U.S. government shutdown ends
European stocks follow their global counterparts higher on Thursday as the U.S. government shutdown came to an end.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.2% higher at the opening bell, with most sectors in the green.
Germany’s DAX was seen a touch above the flatline, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.66% and Italy’s FTSE MIB was up 0.46%. Spain’s Ibex 35 advanced 0.26%.
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index, however, dipped into the red, shedding 0.28%.
Asia-Pacific shares mostly rose and U.S. stock futures ticked higher overnight after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a funding bill into law, effectively ending the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.
The measure, which will fund government operations through the end of January, was passed by the House of Representatives earlier Wednesday night in a 222-209 vote.
Investors in Europe will be keeping an eye on earnings reports from Siemens, Deutsche Telekom, Enel, Merck, Aviva and Alstom, among others.
On data releases, the U.K. economy notched 0.1% growth in the third quarter, according to new preliminary figures from the Office for National Statistics.
Source: Cnbc.com
