- US jobless claims tumble
- Retailers gain on strong sales performance
- Holland's unemployment increases
- ECB says Eurozone will recover in late 2013

FTSE-100: 0.41%
Dax 30: 0.50%
Cac-40: 0.89%
FTSE Mibtel 30: 1.43%
Ibex 35: 0.42%
Stoxx 600: 0.42%

European equities ended on a high note Thursday as the US economy picked up on improved jobs data.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits tumbled to a five-year low last week, the largest drop since February 2010, according to the Labor Department. Weekly unemployment benefit applications fell 37,000 to a seasonally adjusted 335,000, it said.

In other good news for the US, housing starts surged 12.1 % in December to a near five-year high, Commerce Department data showed.

Builders started construction of houses and apartments at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 954,000. It exceeded expectations of 887,000 and the prior month's revised level of 851,000. The results were buttressed by the multi-family apartment sector. However single-family home starts also were up notably.

Those able to afford a house have moved forward with purchases despite an increase in the number of renters.

The Federal Reserve said the country's economy has started to recover following a boost in auto and home sales. It comes after US lawmakers agreed on a budget that avoided most tax increases and spending cuts.

Retailers push stocks higher

Retailers were also shaking the market as Carrefour, Delhaize Group and Associated British Foods advanced on the back of results.

France's biggest retailer Carrefour jumped 6% after reporting strong growth in Latin America and improved business in France.

Delhaize Group, the Belgian owner of Food Lion supermarkets, rocketed 8% after saying its US unit had the best quarterly performance since 2006.

Associated British Foods climbed 3% after it posted a 10% rise in group revenue, driven by a 12% increase in sugar sales and a 25% jump in retail sales.

Unemployment in Holland increases

While the US enjoyed positive jobs data, Holland's unemployment rate rose 7.2% in January after a reading of 7% in December.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index (SXXP) rose 0.38% to 287.12 by 16:35 with the construction and materials sector pushing it to its biggest increase since January 9th.

The European Central Bank's (ECB) monthly bulletin said the economy would recover later in 2013, imitating the ECB President's last press conference.

Single currency rises

The euro/dollar increased by 0.49% to the 1.3354 dollar mark.

Front month Brent crude futures moved up by 0.571 dollars to the 110.310 dollar mark.



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