The gains reversed two sessions of losses, when weaker earnings and geopolitical tensions had cooled sentiment.
Rio Tinto said on Thursday it is in early talks to buy Glencore, a deal that would create the world’s largest mining company. Glencore shares touched their highest since July 2024, while Rio fell 2.2%.
The STOXX 600 was up 0.4% by 0809 GMT. Energy stocks and miners led advances, rising 1.7% and 1.5%, respectively.
Shares of Anglo American also rose 2.4%, a day after a filing from the European Commission showed that the miner’s deal with Canada’s Teck Resources is heading for antitrust clearance in Europe.
Dutch chip equipment maker ASML added 2.1%, after TSMC reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue. Chipmaker STMicroelectronics rose nearly 1%.
Investors are also waiting for a crucial U.S. jobs report on Friday, which is expected to show a slowdown in job growth in December due to caution among businesses.
