European shares rise ahead of economic data deluge

European shares opened slightly higher on Thursday, with investors braced for a wave of economic data from major economies.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index ticked up 0.2% at 514.90 points by 0710 GMT.

The retail sector rose to the top, boosted by a 5.3% gain in JD Sports after the British sportswear retailer reported an improvement in second-quarter underlying sales growth.


Energy stocks weighed the most, dropping 0.6% as oil prices fell for a fifth session as investors worried about its global demand outlook.

Flash purchasing managers' index (PMI) for France, Germany, Britain and the eurozone are set to drop between 0715 GMT and 0830 GMT.

Consumer confidence data for the eurozone is due at 1400 GMT, while U.S. PMI and initial jobless claims figures are due later in the day.

Among individual stocks, Aegon lost 4% after the Dutch insurer said its key capital generation metric fell in the first half of the year.

Deutsche Bank gained 2.5% after the lender reached settlements with more than half the plaintiffs who accused the firm of underpaying them