European stocks are broadly higher on Thursday, with automakers leading the gainers amid reports the Trump administration might suspend threats to impose tariffs on cars imported from the European Union if the block lifted duties on U.S. cars.
Investors also cheered data from Destatis showing German factory orders rebounded at a faster than expected pace in May.
Germany factory orders jumped 2.6 percent month-on-month in May, in contrast to a revised 1.6 percent drop in April. Analysts expected orders to climb 1.1 percent.
While the U.K.?s FTSE 100 Index has risen by 0.6 percent, the French CAC 40 Index and the German DAX Index are jumping by 1.2 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.
Italian insurance group Assicurazioni Generali has jumped after it entered into an agreement with Generali Deutschland to sell its 89.9 percent stake in Generali Leben to Viridium Gruppe.
Sodexo shares have also advanced. The French food services and facilities management group has maintained its full-year goals after posting third quarter sales that topped forecasts.
British fashion retailer SuperDry has soared almost 9 percent after announcing a special dividend.
On the other hand, Primark-owner Associated British Foods has slumped after releasing a trading update for the 40 weeks to June 23rd.
