European shares advanced Thursday, with the STOXX 600 rising 0.77% as energy and aerospace stocks led early trading and the European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged after weighing inflation and growth risks.
Börse Stuttgart market data showed the index at 649.11 at the close, up 0.77%. Reuters reported that this was its highest closing level since Sept. 8.
Reuters reported that Shell shares rose 2.6% and Airbus gained 3.2% in early trading Thursday. The energy sector was up 1%, while technology stocks fell 0.7%. Reuters linked the moves to company earnings.
Shell reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of $10.814 billion and income attributable to Shell plc shareholders of $12.057 billion. The company also announced a $5 billion share buyback on Thursday. Airbus reported third-quarter revenue of €17.469 billion, down 2% from a year earlier, and adjusted EBIT of €1.768 billion, down 9%. Its 2026 guidance remained unchanged, including a target of around 870 commercial aircraft deliveries.
The ECB held its deposit facility rate at 2.50%, its main refinancing operations rate at 2.65% and its marginal lending facility rate at 2.90%. It said higher energy prices posed upside risks to inflation and downside risks to growth. ECB President Christine Lagarde said the bank would assess incoming data meeting by meeting and would not commit to a particular rate path. She said countries with high debt should plan for “interest rates are higher, and will probably remain higher, for a period of time.”
The ECB’s next monetary policy meeting is scheduled for Dec. 16-17.
