European stocks opened higher on Thursday, led by energy stocks, as investors also awaited the European Central Bank's interest rate decision later in the day.
By 0711 GMT, the pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.2 percent, on track to end a three-session losing streak. The oil and gas sector benefited from a 1 percent rise in crude prices, which supported the blue-chip index.
The European Central Bank's interest rate decision is due at 1215 GMT. The central bank is expected to leave rates unchanged while signaling that its next move will be a rate cut, although these expectations are likely to be vague and subject to caveats.
Among individual stocks, Publicis jumped 7.7% after the French advertising group raised its organic growth outlook after beating expectations for the second quarter.
Essity shares rose 5.7% after the Swedish hygiene products maker reported better-than-expected core earnings for the second quarter.
ABB shares fell 5.8% after the Swiss engineering group reported slightly better-than-expected second-quarter earnings, the latest figures from outgoing CEO Bjorn Rosengren.
Shares of Finnish telecoms equipment maker Nokia fell 8.8% after it reported a 32% drop in quarterly profit. (Reporting by Shristi Achar and Pranav Kashyap in Bengaluru; Editing by Elaine Soering)
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