European stocks rallied on Thursday as a massive EU stimulus plan and fresh U.S. unemployment data offset concerns over rising U.S.-China tensions.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed up by 1.8% provisionally, with most sectors and bourses in the black. Chemicals was the best-performing sector, jumping 2.6%.
Investors are keeping an eye on developments in an escalating war of words between the U.S. and China, with trade, the coronavirus pandemic and now Hong Kong a focus in the dispute.
Shares of Cineworld continued to rally on Thursday, jumping almost 22% after the cinema chain received a liquidity boost from lenders ahead of plans to reopen in July.
Luxembourg-based office space provider IWG climbed over 15% after a share offering.
At the bottom of the European blue chip index, British luxury car and airplane engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce fell by around 8% after investor AKO Capital dumped its stake in the company at a discount.
Source: CNBC