European stocks gained on Thursday, with investors bidding auto makers and pharmaceuticals higher in the face of data showing a stagnating economy as European Central Bank President Mario Draghi leads his last interest-rate meeting.
The Stoxx Europe 600 SXXP, +0.62% rose 0.38% to 396.55. Speculation that the European Union will grant the U.K. an extension to Brexit also helped buoy sentiment.
The German DAX DAX, +0.61% added 0.49%, to 12861.02, the French CAC 40 PX1, +0.56% rose 0.36% to 5673.77 and the U.K. FTSE 100 UKX, +0.94% increased 0.67%, to 7309.57.
The ECB isn’t expected to take any fresh action at Draghi’s last meeting. “The economic data continues to show underlying weakness in the eurozone, and we expect the ECB to reiterate that risks are still to the downside,” said Andrew Harman, senior portfolio manager at First State Investments, who expects further weakness in the euro.
That data includes the flash eurozone composite purchasing managers index barely staying over the 50 mark in October. The outlook in Germany in particular was worrisome, with the services PMI falling to a 37-month low. Read:German economy continues to struggle with manufacturing troubles spreading to services
AstraZeneca AZN, +3.99% AZN, +1.75% provided the largest upward pull to the Stoxx 600, with the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical rising 3.3% as cancer drug sales drove better-than-forecast third-quarter sales and profit.
Daimler DAI, +3.84% rose 4.4% as the German auto maker reported a better-than-forecast operating profit.
Nokia NOKIA, -19.84% NOK, -1.35% plunged 20% as the Finnish telecom equipment maker lowered its guidance for this year and next, citing margin pressure, more 5G investments and additional digitalization investments. The company also cited high costs linked to first-generation 5G products, profitability challenges in China and pricing pressure in early 5G deals.
Rival Ericsson ERIC.B, -1.99% slipped 3%.
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