European stocks close higher (AFP)

LONDON (AFP) – European stock markets closed higher on Thursday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of top shares up 0.86 percent at 6,054.55 points.

In Frankfurt, the DAX rose 0.54 percent to 7,471.44 points and in Paris the CAC 40 gained 0.47 percent to 3,979.96 points.