(Reuters) - European stocks rose on Thursday as Swedish retailer H&M and French-Italian chipmaker STMicroelectronics jumped after reporting forecast-beating results, while hopes of more U.S. stimulus aided global sentiment.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index (STOXX) rose 0.7% by 0707 GMT, with bourses in Paris (FCHI) and London (FTSE) up over 1%, while German stocks (GDAXI) rose 0.3%.
H&M (ST:HMb) rose 5.6% as it reported a third-quarter profit above analysts' expectations and said sales continued to recover in September. The retail index (SXTP) rose 1.3% to lead sectoral gains.
STMicroelectronics (PA:STM) jumped 3.5% after it forecast 2020 sales above previous estimate.
After European markets ended the third quarter in a subdued manner on worries about a resurgence in European COVID-19 cases, Brexit deal and the United States election, the mood brightened on Thursday amid signs of progress in a U.S. fiscal bill.
Final readings of September manufacturing activity for the euro zone and UK are due later in the day, with economists expecting recovery to remain intact after a coronavirus-induced hit.
German drugs company Bayer AG (DE:BAYGn) slumped 12% to the bottom of STOXX 600 after announcing plans for more than 1.5 billion euros ($1.76 billion) of cost cuts as of 2024 and revealing impairment charges on its agricultural business.