Major stock indices in Europe mostly higher

Most European stock indexes rising, mining stocks rise in price on strong macroeconomic data from China.

Official PMI for China's processing industry, published on Thursday, rose unexpectedly in August to 50.4 points from 49.9 points in July, indicating a increase in activity in the sector. Experts on average expected a decline to 49.9 index points.

Meanwhile, a similar index for the processing industry, calculated by Caixin Media, and Markit, fell last month to 50 points from 50.6 points in July. Analysts had expected a less sharp decline to 50.1 points.

Also, investor sentiment was supported by data on the growth of business activity in Switzerland and the UK. PMI in Switzerland in August rose to 51 from 50.1, signaling a slight recovery in economic activity. For nine consecutive months the index is above the threshold of 50 that separates contraction from expansion.

Manufacturing activity in the UK unexpectedly jumped in August, showed Markit data. Purchasing managers index of manufacturing rose to 53.3 from 41-month low of 48.3, published in July, after the EU referendum. The index was to rise to 49. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the sector. The index indicates that the sector expanded the most in ten months in August. The monthly increase was the highest over a 25-year history of the survey. "The companys said that the work that had been postponed in July, have now been restarted since manufacturers and their customers began to regain a sense of returning to work, as usual," said Rob Dobson, senior economist at IHS Markit.

The composite index of the largest companies in the region Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0,7% - to 346.05 points.

The index of 50 largest enterprises of the euro zone Euro Stoxx 50 added 0.6%. The index operator Stoxx Ltd. said yesterday that from September 19, the index will exclude Italian insurer Assicurazioni Generali and UniCredit Bank, as well as the French retailer Carrefour. Their place will be taken by Adidas AG, the Irish building materials producer CRH Plc and Ahold supermarket chain.

Commodities rise in price on the statistical data of China, and the quotations of mining companies Antofagasta, of Glencore and Anglo American rising by more than 1.6%.

The price of the French construction company Eiffage SA rose 2.6% on the back of its strong profits in the first half.

Capitalization of the second largest spirits producer Pernod Ricard increased by 1.9%. The company increased its net profit by 43% and gave an optimistic outlook for the current reporting period.

Roche Holding AG's shares added 0.3% after the Swiss pharmaceutical company said its immunotherapeutic drug Tecentriq showed positive results in the Phase III studies.

At the moment:

FTSE 6771.07 -10.44 -0.15%

DAX 10634.13 41.44 0.39%

CAC 4477.14 38.92 0.88%