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European shares climbed on Thursday, as a relief rally swept through global markets after artificial intelligence (AI) bellwether Nvidia reported strong earnings, while investors awaited the release of delayed U.S. jobs data.
The pan-European STOXX 600, was up 0.7% at 565.85 points as of 0938 GMT.
Bourses in Germany and France, also rose about 0.8% each.
Chip designer Nvidia's blowout quarterly results and positive outlook come at a crucial time for investors, who have been rattled in recent weeks by fears of an AI bubble.
Nvidia's results temporarily eased investor anxiety, with the company's shares rising 5.5% in U.S. premarket trading.
"The strong results do not erase AI bubble fears, but rather push them below the surface, offering a brief reprieve for markets," said Daniela Hathorn, senior market analyst at Capital.com.
The rebound among chipmakers was further fuelled by reports that the U.S. may delay its planned 100% tariffs on semiconductor imports to ease tensions with China.
The European tech index climbed 1.2%, with Infineon and ASML gaining about 2% each.
AI equipment makers that have benefited from the technology boom, such as Schneider Electric and Siemens Energy were up 2% and 4%, respectively.
Europe's defence index was up 2.1%, having slid nearly 3% on Wednesday on signs of a fresh U.S.-led push to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
On the financials side, European banking stocks were among the biggest gainer on the index, up more than 1.3% each.
"At a time where there is so much focus and emphasis placed on the tech sector, financials and banks have been steadily creeping up in the shadows," Hathorn said.
BNP Paribas gained 5.7% after the French bank raised its CET1 ratio target, a gauge of financial stability, to 13% by 2027.
Later in the day, the focus will shift to a long-awaited official U.S. jobs report that could sway expectations regarding the Federal Reserve's monetary policy verdict next month.
Analysts say the coming U.S. figures could offer clues on the Federal Reserve's next steps, with weaker labour-market data potentially reinforcing expectation of an interest-rate cut.
Geopolitical developments between Russia and Ukraine also remain on investors' radar, alongside a full data calendar in the Eurozone led by the Consumer Confidence Index.
Germany’s foreign intelligence service secretly monitored the telephone communications of former U.S. President Barack Obama for several years, including calls made aboard Air Force One, according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Israeli media report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a lengthy security meeting that reportedly focused on the country’s regional threats, including Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday (4 January) that the United States could carry out further military action in Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said Washington now effectively controls the country.
At the end of last year, U.S. President Donald Trump was reported to have raised the Azerbaijan–Armenia peace agenda during a conversation with Israel’s prime minister, warning that if peace were not achieved, Washington could raise tariffs on both countries by 100 percent.
President Ilham Aliyev said 2025 has politically closed the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, as a Trump-era reset in U.S. ties, new transport corridors and a push into AI, renewables and defence production reshape Azerbaijan’s priorities.
On Tuesday, the U.S. dollar strengthened against major peers, while the euro fell following slower-than-expected inflation in Europe. Market movements were relatively subdued as investors focused on upcoming U.S. economic data.
Wall Street closed higher on Tuesday, boosted by optimism over artificial intelligence (AI) and a strong rally in Moderna shares, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average approaching a record high.
India’s largest oil refiner, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has taken a significant step towards diversifying its crude oil supply by purchasing Colombian crude, from state oil company Ecopetrol, for the first time.
China has given the nod for car makers to sell Level 3 self-driving vehicles from as early as next year after it approved two electric sedans from Changan Auto and BAIC Motors.
Warner Bros Discovery’s board rejected Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion hostile bid on Wednesday (17 December), citing insufficient financing guarantees.
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