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European markets<\/span> closed higher on Wednesday, reacting positively to some encouraging earnings announcements and economic data.<\/p>\n Worries about a surge in coronavirus<\/span> cases across the globe weighed on sentiment and limited markets’ upside. Investors looked ahead to the ECB rate decision for directional cues.<\/p>\n The European Central Bank holds a policy meeting on Thursday, with investors hoping the meeting will give more clarity about the central bank’s stimulus plans.<\/p>\n The pan European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.65%. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 ended 0.52% up, Germany’s DAX gained 0.44% and France’s CAC 40 moved up 0.74%, while Switzerland’s SMI advanced 1.17%.<\/p>\n Among other markets in Europe, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden closed higher.<\/p>\n Czech Republic, Greece, Norway, Poland, Russia and Turkey ended weak, while Austrial closed flat.<\/p>\n In the UK market, Smith & Nephew gained about 3.7%. Hikma Pharmaceuticals gained about 3% after announcing it has resumed the launch of its generic version of GlaxoSmithKline’s asthma drug Advair Diskus in the U.S. <\/p>\n Burberry Group, Imperial Brands, Entain and Admiral Group gained 2 to 3%. Aveva Group, JD Sports, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, British American Tobacco, BAE Systems, ICP and Reckitt Benckiser also rose sharply.<\/p>\n On the other hand, Bunzl, B&M, Just Eat Takeaway, Auto Trader Group, United Utilities, Weir Group and British Land Group delined sharply.<\/p>\n In the German market, Bayer and Fresenius both gained more than 3%. Linde, Lufthansa, Covestro, Fresenius Medical Care, Henkel and SAP gained 1 to 2%.<\/p>\n Volkswagen, RWE, Deutsche Bank, Vonovia, BME and E.ON were among the notable losers.<\/p>\n In France, Carrefour gained about 5% after it reported higher first-quarter sales and announced that it is launching a share buyback program worth at least \u20ac500 million.<\/p>\n Kering moved up sharply after saying its sales in the first-quarter topped forecasts as leading brand Gucci returned to growth.<\/p>\n LVMH, Hermes International, Atos, ArcelorMittal, LOreal, WorldLine and Essilor also ended with strong gains. BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Societe Generale ended notably lower.<\/p>\n In economic news, data from the Office for National Statistics revealed U.K. consumer prices advanced 0.7% year-on-year in March, faster than the 0.4% increase seen in February.<\/p>\n U.K. average house prices grew 8.6% year-on-year in February, faster than the 8% increase in January, another report showed. This was the fastest growth since October 2014. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n