The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 1.0 per cent after ending Wednesday with its fifth straight quarter of gains, and was set for its best session in more than a month.
Travel-related stocks jumped 2.3 per cent after falling for four days in a row on fears of more restrictions following a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in Asia and the UK.
Airlines EasyJet, British Airways-owner IAG and Ryanair rose between 3 per cent and 4 per cent to the top of the STOXX 600.
The benchmark index scaled all-time highs in June as signs of a steady economic recovery sparked demand for economically sensitive stocks, including banks and miners, but gains slowed in the past two weeks as a jump in inflation raised fears of a sudden tapering in monetary stimulus.
Now, “growing concerns about the recovery in the second-half have in turn reduced fears of an imminent withdrawal of monetary stimulus,” said Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid.
After data earlier in the week showed a sharp improvement in European economic sentiment in June, figures on Thursday confirmed the euro zone manufacturing sector expanded last month at its fast pace on record.
Bourses in Italy and France rose 1 per cent and 1.1 per cent, respectively, following upbeat domestic factory activity data, while Germany’s DAX jumped 1 per cent as data showed retail sales in Europe’s biggest economy rebounded in May.
In company news, Associated British Foods jumped 4.5 per cent to the top of the STOXX 600 as it said third-quarter sales at its Primark fashion stores that reopened after Covid-19 lockdowns were ahead of expectations in all markets.
French catering and food services group Sodexo surged 5.0 per cent to a more-than-one-month high after raising its second-half revenue and profit margin forecasts, betting on the full reopening of U.S. schools.
Fashion retailer H&M, on the other hand, fell 2.3 per cent as its second-quarter earnings remained well below pre-pandemic levels.
Underlining the “risk-on” trade, real estate and healthcare stocks – so-called defensive stocks that are considered safe bets at times of economic turmoil – were among the smallest gainers in morning trading.
