The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.3 per cent by 0704 GMT. If gains hold until the end of the day, the index will mark its longest gaining streak in three-and-a-half years.
The benchmark index has scaled record highs this year as investors bet a steady vaccination programme would jumpstart economic growth, but a recent jump in inflation has sparked concerns of a sooner-than-expected tightening in global monetary policy.
Data on Wednesday showed British inflation unexpectedly jumped above the Bank of England’s 2.0 per cent target in May and looked set to rise further as the country re-opens its economy from coronavirus-induced lockdowns.
Still, London’s commodity-heavy FTSE 100 rose 0.3 per cent with oil majors BP and Shell tracking a jump in Brent crude to its highest since April 2019.
The European energy stock index added 0.6 per cent.
In company news, EverArc Holdings Ltd jumped 8 per cent as it said it would buy firefighting products and lubricant additives manufacturer Perimeter Solutions in a deal valued at about $2 billion.
SAP shares fell 1.2 per cent, hit possibly by a disappointing profit forecast from US software rival Oracle Corp.
