Europe close: Stocks bounce back on slight softness in US jobless claims numbers
European shares rebounded following the release of slightly soft weekly jobless claims data in the States.
In particular, the US Department of Labor reported that so-called secondary claims rose by 40,000 over the week ending on 17 December to 1.7m.
The inflation outlook remains a concern for investors but the jobs market and to what degree it loosens is considered a key input when trying to anticipate the path of inflation.
Against that backdrop, the pan-regional Stoxx 600 pared early losses to end the day up by 0.68% at 430.35, with major bourses all higher alongside.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year German bond was six basis points lower to 2.44% and front-dated Brent crude oil slipped by 1.1% to $82.19 a barrel.
Nonetheless, the surge in Chinese Covid cases remained very much on investors's minds and in health authorities cross hairs.
Overnight, the US joined the growing list of nations requiring negative Covid tests for travellers arriving from China.
Yet on Thursday the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said screening and restrictions for arrivals from China were not justified.
Sentiment was also held back by Russia pounding Ukraine with a massive missile strike on several cities, including the capital Kyiv.
Luxury firms with an exposure to China, such as LVMH, managed to rise.
Airlines however remained lower as well on the prospect of new Covid restrictions dampening demand from Chinese tourists, with Lufthansa, easyJet, British Airways owner IAG and Wizz Air all flying lower.
Wizz and easyJet were also hit by news that Italian competition authorities had started a probe into alleged price fixing on flights to Sicily.
Energy majors BP and Shell were little changed despite some concerns about an economic slowdown in the world's second-largest economy.