Europe midday: Stocks trading on front foot, US CPI and China data in focus

European stocks were trading on the front foot on Monday ahead of a busy week for economic data, including growth indicators from China and all-important inflation stats from the US.

The Stoxx 600 index was up 0.62% at 446.04 in midday trading, with decent gains across all major European indices early on. The index rose 3.2% over the past two weeks after hitting a ten-month low of 429.58 on 27 October.

Stocks were helped by a tech-driven rally on Wall Street on Friday, with the Nasdaq surged 2.05% – its biggest one-day gain since May – after an easing in US Treasury yields.

The coming week was set to be a busy one when it comes to economic data, though the focus will be US inflation stats due on Tuesday and Chinese retail sales and industrial production scheduled for Wednesday morning.

In the US, core consumer price inflation was forecast to have held steady at 4.1% in October.

"The uncertainty regarding when the Fed will be done hiking the rates is killing everyone, but even the Fed itself doesn’t know when tightening will/should end. It will depend on crucial economic data, like inflation, jobs, and growth figures," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank.

Meanwhile,Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, said traders were "placing bets for weaker activity data" from China.

"The upcoming release of China's October activity data on Wednesday is anticipated with a cautious outlook. Given disappointing PMIs and a more substantial decline in exports than initially forecasted, traders tend to believe that economic activity likely softened from September to October," he said.

Also on the agenda for over the coming days were UK and EU unemployment, Eurozone GDP and Eurozone consumer sentiment figures on Tuesday.

Novo Nordisk jumps

Novo Nordisk shares were up 2% in Copenhagen after a Danish pharma giant said its weight-loss drug Wegovy reduced the risk of death by 18% in a trial, cutting the risk of cardiovascular events for people with obesity and heart disease.

Phoenix Group was a big riser on the Stoxx 600, rising 5% after the UK-listed insurer said it was lifting its full-year cash generation targets after completing the funds merger of its Standard Life and Phoenix Life businesses into a single entity.

Also higher was British Land, advancing 4% after saying that estimated rental value growth should come in at the top end of guidance this year.