Author: Elena Todorova
123jump.com
Last Update: 1:17 PM EDT September 06 2007

European stock markets finished in the positive territory Thursday, helped by strength among mining companies on the back of rallying metals prices, deal speculation and a decision made by the ECB and the BoE to keep interest rates unchanged. Upbeat U.S. data also generated positive sentiment, helping to ease fears of a greater-than-expected slowdown in the U.S. economy. Across the region, the U.K. led advancers with a gain of 0.7%, followed by France, up 0.5% and Germany, rising 0.4%.