LONDON — European markets closed higher on Wednesday as investors digested euro zone economic data and awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest meeting minutes.
European markets
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index provisionally closed up 0.7%, extending its gains later into the session.
Travel and leisure stocks rose 1.9%, retail and mining stocks both added around 1.8%, and technology stocks were up 1.4%.
The European blue chip index closed Tuesday's session up 0.8% at its highest level in three months, while markets in Asia-Pacific advanced on Wednesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street.
U.S. stocks rose in early trade as investors look ahead to the publication of minutes from Fed's November meeting, seeking clues on the direction of monetary policy.
Global markets have taken some heart from recent, lower-than-expected consumer and wholesale inflation prints in the United States, prompting bets that the Fed would have to slow its aggressive interest rate hikes.
European investors were also inspecting Wednesday's flash November PMI (purchasing managers' index) readings from the euro zone, which reaffirmed that the 19-member currency bloc has entered recession, but showed the downturn in business slowing slightly.