European stocks advanced on Thursday as investors looked for signs of progress in trade talks between the United States and the European Union.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.5% at 552.45 points.
Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 each rose 0.4%, while the UK’s FTSE 100 outperformed with a 0.8% gain.
Most other major regional indexes also traded higher, except Spain’s IBEX, which edged down 0.1%.
Investor sentiment was buoyed by signs that US and EU negotiators are nearing a trade agreement.
EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said Wednesday that “good progress” had been made on a framework deal with Washington, with a final agreement potentially just days away. Talks reportedly include measures aimed at protecting the EU auto industry.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 50% tariff on copper imports and a separate 50% duty on goods from Brazil, both set to take effect on August 1.
He also issued new tariff notices for seven additional trading partners.
The EU-US deal
A trade framework between the United States and the European Union could be established as early as this week, according to comments made by President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
“We’re probably two days off from sending them a letter. We are talking to them,” Trump said, indicating that the dispatch of such a letter would signal a deal or a final decision on tariffs.
Trump also noted an improvement in communication between the two sides. “They treated us very badly until recently, now they’re treating us very nicely. It’s like a different world,” he said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday.
“They were among the toughest to deal with.”
The remarks reflect a notable shift in tone from the president, who has frequently criticised the US–EU trade relationship as unfair and imbalanced.
Wall Street on Wednesday
US stocks ended higher on Wednesday, recovering from a choppy start as optimism around a potential US–EU trade agreement and gains in key tech names lifted sentiment.
After an early advance gave way to some midday weakness, the major indices regained ground in the second half of the session to close firmly in the green.
The Nasdaq led the gains, rising 192.87 points, or 0.9 percent, to a record close of 20,611.34.
The S&P 500 added 37.74 points, or 0.6 percent, to finish at 6,263.26, while the Dow gained 217.54 points, or 0.5 percent, ending the day at 44,458.30.
Nvidia (NVDA) helped drive the rally, climbing 1.8 percent and briefly becoming the first company to hit a $4 trillion market capitalization.
Market participants also monitored trade-related developments closely, with President Donald Trump posting multiple letters to world leaders on Truth Social outlining plans for additional tariff increases.
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