The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up around 0.25 percent shortly after the opening bell, with most sectors and major bourses in positive territory.

Markets are slowly growing less pessimistic about the chances of a Sino-U.S. trade deal after a slew of news this week pointed to easing tensions between the two powers.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Chinese state-owned companies have bought more than 1.5 million tonnes of U.S. soybeans in the first major U.S. soybean purchases in more than six months.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.8 percent, building on early gains made after British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a no-confidence vote.

·         China stocks rallied on Thursday as expectations of further policy measures to aid the economy led to gains across the board.

The blue-chip CSI300 index ended up 1.6 percent, at 3,219.69 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.2 percent to 2,634.05 points.