\n<\/p>\n
European stocks were mostly higher on Thursday, with U.K. markets<\/span> underperforming ahead of the Bank of England’s interest-rate decision. <\/p>\n The central bank is widely expected to announce a quarter-point interest rate cut despite concerns about rising inflation. <\/p>\n In economic releases, Germany’s exports grew for the first time in three months in June despite falling shipments to the U.S., data from Destatis revealed. Exports advanced 0.8 percent on a monthly basis in June, reversing a fall of 1.4 percent in May. <\/p>\n Separate set of data revealed that German industrial output decreased 1.9 percent on a monthly basis in June, bigger than May’s revised 0.1 percent drop and also worse than economists’ forecast of 0.4 percent fall.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, U.K. house prices increased by more-than-expected 0.4 percent in July from June, according to data from the mortgage lender Halifax. <\/p>\n The pan European STOXX 600 rose half a percent to 543.84 as higher U.S. tariffs on dozens of trading partners kicked in. <\/p>\n The German DAX gained more than 1 percent and France’s CAC 40 surged 0.8 percent while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 was down 0.3 percent.<\/p>\n A.P. Moller-Maersk shares rallied over 3 percent. The Danish shipping group raised its financial outlook for 2025 after posting strong second-quarter results. <\/p>\n Germany’s United Internet declined 1.7 percent after reporting a small rise in first-half profit. <\/p>\n Valneva, a specialty vaccine company, surged 6 percent after the FDA removed its recommended pause on the use of IXCHIQ.<\/p>\n Consumer goods and adhesives maker Henkel climbed 2.2 percent after lifting its FY25 margin forecast.<\/p>\n Defense firm Rheinmetall plunged 5.2 percent after reporting lower-than-expected second-quarter sales.<\/p>\n Technology giant Siemens rose 1.2 percent on posting better-than-expected revenue and order intake in its third quarter results.<\/p>\n Insurer Allianz soared 5.4 percent on posting better-than-expected Q2 earnings and affirming its FY operating profit outlook.<\/p>\n Deutsche Telekom lost 3 percent after reporting weaker second quarter results in its domestic market.<\/p>\n Telecoms group Swisscom advanced 1.5 percent on reporting higher half-year revenue. <\/p>\n British advertising giant WPP gave up 3.7 percent on weak first-half results, with operating profit plunging 48 percent. <\/p>\n Government services firm Serco jumped nearly 8 percent on posting strong half-year results and reaffirming its FY25 forecast. <\/p>\n Hikma slumped nearly 7 percent after the generic drug maker lowered its margin outlook for its injectables unit. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n