European shares opened higher on Thursday driven by a deluge of corporate results and takeover speculation around UK packaging firm DS Smith.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.37% with mining stocks up as Anglo American cashed in on the commodity price boom with better-than-expected annual results.
All eyes later in the day will be on February consumer confidence data from the euro zone.
Investors were also waiting for a revision to US fourth quarter GDP figures, with analysts expecting a slight change to 4% to 4.2% at the annualised rate, and weekly jobless claims with forecasts for a fall to 828,000 from from 861,000.
In equity news, Standard Chartered shares fell 5% even as the UK lender lost restored its dividend and reaffirmed its long-term profit goals.
Shares in DS Smith were up 9% on reports rival Mondi was considering a bid.
Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, tumbled 4.4% even as it reported a higher-than-expected core quarterly profit.
Howden Joinery shares fell as the company posted a fall in full-year profit and revenue after the Covid-19 pandemic had a “significant” impact on its business.
Shares in Centrica were lower after the British Gas owner reported a slide in full-year operating profits, also weighed down by Covid-19, as it paused the final dividend.
