Solid Regional Manufacturing Data Underscores Europe's Ongoing Recovery

European stocks extended gains Thursday after solid regional manufacturing data underscored the region's ongoing recovery and a weaker pound boosted share prices in the United Kingdom.

The region-wide Stoxx Europe 600 index, the broadest measure of share prices, was marked 0.27% higher at 391.06 in the opening hour of trading, led by solid gains for automaking and industrial stocks. Britain's FTSE 100, fresh off an all-time intraday high of 7,586.45 points yesterday, added 0.41% thanks in part to weaker pound sterling, which was marked 0.15% lower at 1.2869 in early European trading following yesterday's YouGov poll which indicated that chance of a so-called hung parliament in next week's U.K. general elections.

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European Stocks Extend Gains After Manufacturing Data Underscores Region's Economic Strength

This article was written by a staff member of TheStreet.