European stock markets rose on Thursday, influenced by positive developments on Wall Street and ahead of the release of crucial U.S. inflation data.
U.S. CPI Data Impact on Market Sentiment
Market sentiment in Europe received a boost from Wall Street’s strength, particularly in the technology sector. This positive trend extended into Asia, where Japan’s Nikkei index surpassed 35,000 for the first time in almost 34 years. However, caution prevails in Europe as investors await the release of the crucial U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) later in the session.
Eurozone Economic Challenges and Recession Concerns
Data indicated a positive annual rebound of 0.8% in Spanish industrial production for November, recovering from a revised 1.4% decline in the previous month. However, comments from European Central Bank officials earlier in the week painted a grim picture of a weakened Eurozone economy. Vice President Luis de Guindos hinted at the possibility of a technical recession in the second half of 2023.
Tesco Boosts Profit Guidance; Pagero Surges on Acquisition Offer
In the corporate sector, Tesco (LON:TSCO) witnessed a 1% rise in its stock after the largest grocer in the U.K. increased its full-year profit guidance. Meanwhile, Pagero (ST:PAGERO) experienced a notable surge of over 15% after Thomson Reuters (NYSE:TRI) announced its proposal to acquire the Swedish e-invoicing and tax solutions company for approximately $625 million, surpassing a previous bid from U.S. tax technology firm Vertex (NASDAQ:VRTX).