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European markets<\/span> closed on a slightly positive note on Wednesday with investors reacting to corporate earnings, the latest batch of economic data from euro area and the U.S., and updates on the vaccine front.<\/p>\n Data showing U.S. inflation was not rising as fast as had been feared, and encouraging earnings updates from some top name companies including SAP and LVMH Moet Hennessey aided sentiment.<\/p>\n In vaccine news, the French government has reportedly started shipping Johnson & Johnson jabs received earlier this week across the country despite the recent suspension in the U.S.<\/p>\n The pan European Stoxx 600 gained 0.19%. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 climbed 0.71%, France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.4% and Switzerland’s SMI gained 0.3%, while Germany’s DAX slid 0.17%.<\/p>\n Among other markets in Europe, Austria, Belgium, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Turkey closed higher.<\/p>\n Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland and Sweden ended weak, while Iceland and Ireland settled flat.<\/p>\n Glencore moved up sharply, riding on a rating upgrade by Goldman Sachs. Drug maker AstraZeneca gained in strength after China’s health<\/span> regulator approved Tagrisso, its lung cancer treatment, as adjuvant treatment for patients with early-stage lung cancer.<\/p>\n Shares of EasyJet ended nearly 6% up after the low-cost airline expressed optimism that European travel markets will revive this summer. <\/p>\n Tesco ended lower by about 2% after the company reported a 14.7% fall in annual profit.<\/p>\n LVMH Moet Hennessey shares rose sharply after the company reported consensus-beating first-quarter sales driven by strong performance by flagship brands. <\/p>\n Business software maker SAP ended notably higher after lifting its full-year guidance, citing a sharp rise in new cloud business<\/span>.<\/p>\n Covestro AG shares rallied sharply after the company raised its earnings and operating cash flow guidance for 2021.<\/p>\n In the Swiss market, Credit Suisse shares drifted lower after the bank flagged around $2.3 billion in problematic loans in its Greensill Capital funds.<\/p>\n In economic releases, Eurozone industrial output declined 1% month-on-month in February and fell 1.6% compared to February 2020, Eurostat said.<\/p>\n UK labor productivity declined 0.7% annually in the fourth quarter, in contrast to a 0.4% rise in the third quarter, according to a report released by the Office for National Satistics. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n