European Shares Extend Gains As Inflation Concerns Ease

European stocks traded higher on Thursday, extending gains from the previous session as retreating energy costs helped ease inflation and rate hike concerns.

Investors also remained focused on France, where nationwide strikes and protests are set to take place in several cities today over the cost of living and the deterioration of public services and education.

The British pound struggled to extend gains ahead of the Bank of England rate announcement later today, with economists expecting a 25-bps hike, taking Bank Rate to 4.00 percent in what would mark its first interest-rate hike in three years.