European stocks climbed

European stocks climbed before a report that may show American payrolls increased in January and as BT Group Plc reported earnings that beat analyst estimates.

According to Eurostat, in December, the unemployment rate in the euro area remained at 11.7%, while it was expected to increase to 11.9%. The index of manufacturing activity in the region PMI Markit grew from 46.1 to 47.8 (vs. 47.4).

In January, the index of manufacturing activity in Britain PMI Markit fell to the level of 50.8 against 51.2 pips. in December (revised from 51.4), were weaker than forecast 51.

In January, a preliminary CPI inflation in the eurozone fell to the level of 2% y / y vs. 2.2% in December. Analysts had expected the index to remain flat.

BT Group rose 5.4 percent to 262 pence, the highest price since February 2008, after the U.K.’s biggest fixed-line phone company posted third-quarter adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of 1.55 billion pounds ($2.46 billion). That compared with the average analyst estimate for profit of 1.53 billion pounds.

Santander SA, Spain’s largest bank, lost 2.9 percent to 6 euros as the nation’s market regulator, CNMV, allowed short- selling restrictions on the country’s stocks to lapse. Bankia SA retreated 7.1 percent to 47.5 euro cents.

Electrolux retreated 4.7 percent to 160.10 kronor after the world’s second-biggest appliance maker posted fourth-quarter net income of 291 million kronor ($45.9 million). That missed the average analyst estimate of 368 million kronor.

FTSE 100 6,307.81 +30.93 +0.49%

CAC 40 3,761.27 +28.67 +0.77%

DAX 7,809.95 +33.90 +0.44%