Global Stocks

European stocks moved higher Thursday, as basic resources shares rose following better-than-expected manufacturing data from China, but retail shares struggled after a warning from French supermarket chain Carrefour SA. The Stoxx Europe 600 index SXXP, +0.77% picked up 0.8% to close at 373.88, adding to a 0.7% gain from Wednesday, when fears of a military conflict between the U.S. and North Korea eased and enlivened buying appetite.

U.S. stocks advanced on Thursday, with the main indexes posting their fifth consecutive monthly gain. Meanwhile, a rally in biotech shares pushed the Nasdaq Composite into record territory. Earlier, a pair of economic reports in the morning that highlighted continued improvement in the economy also boosted sentiment on Wall Street.

Asian shares were mostly higher Friday, taking their cue from optimism on Wall Street set off by a report showing spending by U.S. consumers growing in July, along with wages and salaries. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2 percent to 19,684.81 in early trading, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added nearly 0.2 percent to 5,723.40. But South Korea's Kospi lost 0.2 percent at 2,359.02.