Market Update
European markets were up Thursday even as discussions began among European Union leaders and the UN Security Council to resolve the Ukraine crisis.
The FTSE was up 0.3%. The CAC 40 Paris was up 0.5% while the German DAX added 0.3%.
Investors are also focused on the European Central Bank for its policy meeting later today. Speculation that the ECB will take action to loosen lending conditions and control inflation also helped support stocks after ECB President Mario Draghi said on Monday inflation in the euro-zone is "way below" the central bank's goal.
Stocks on the Move
British insurer Aviva was advanced almost 8% after reporting an increase in 2013 operating profit.
In Paris, shares of telecom major Orange SA surged almost 5% after reporting results. The company said it would slash dividend by 25% citing continued pressure in its home market.
Deutsche Telekom AG was down 3.1% after the company lowered its forecast for free cash flow in 2015. The company reported a 6.5% rise in revenue.
Merck KGaA was down 1.2% despite reporting an unexpected increase in core earnings.