Europe open: Shares track Wall St higher as futures point to more gains

European shares started Thursday’s session higher on the back of a stronger Wall Street performance boosted by hopes some sort of US stimulus deal could still be achieved.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 rose 0.6%, with all bourses higher and US futures pointing to further gains across the Atlantic later in the day.

US stocks closed higher overnight, with the Dow Jones industrial index up 530 points as President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated some support for smaller stimulus after Trump abruptly shelved talks on a larger relief plan to help those hammered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In corporate news, GVC Holdings topped the gainers, with the shares up 7.32% after the sports-betting company lifted full-year profit guidance, boosted by a rise in online gaming in the third quarter.

Cigarette maker Imperial Brands gained 5% on better-than-expected volumes as customers smoked more tobacco during lockdown. Net revenue performance was slightly ahead of the guidance and was expected to be broadly flat on last year at constant currencies.

Shares in TalkTalk jumped 11% to 94 pence after saying Toscafund Asset Management has made a non-binding offer of 97p a share to buy the UK telecommunications firm.

Hargreaves Lansdown shares were lower as the asset manager reported flat net new business in the three months to September 30.