Europe: Shares up for fourth session on stimulus optimism

[LONDON] European shares remained at 10-month highs on Thursday, as hopes of more stimulus in the United States and potential Covid-19 vaccine rollouts in Europe strengthened the case for a global economic recovery.

Germany's DAX climbed 1.1 per cent to hit its highest since February, while the pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.6 per cent, both extending gains to a fourth straight session.

Germany and France said they were set to begin inoculating their citizens with the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine in the last week of December, once it is approved by the European Medicines Agency.

London's FTSE 100 was up 0.4 per cent with eyes on a Bank of England meeting later in the day. The central bank is expected to keep its policy unchanged, awaiting the fate of a Brexit trade deal.

REUTERS