Markets: News  

Europe stocks higher after U.S. jobs, housing data

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets rose in afternoon trade on Thursday, in reaction to U.S. housing and jobs data. Weekly jobless claims in the country rose by 2,000 to 366,000, slightly higher than estimated by analysts. For housing starts in July, data showed a 1.1% decline to 746,000 units, below market expectations. The Stoxx Europe 600 index was up 0.1% at 270.56, after hovering around the flat line for most of the trading session. Germany's DAX 30 index added 0.2% to 6,961.24, while France's CAC 40 index inched 0.1% higher. The U.K. FTSE 100 index slipped 0.2% to 5,823.26.