Sharecast - The CAC was up 0.78% to 7359.9 points, within touching distance of its 7,384.86 hit in January 2022, with the FTSE index was up 0.46% at 8035.
All the good news helped lift the pan-regional Stoxx 600 index 0.53% to 466 at 0821 GMT.
US retail sales rose 3% against expectations for a 1.8% rise and despite the cost-of-living crisis.
In equity news, shares in French IT group Atos surged after the company said it had received an indicative offer from Airbus for Atos' minority stake of 29.9% in Evidian, adding that its board had decided to continue talks in view of a deal.
"Atos does not intend to grant any exclusivity to Airbus, and no assurances can be made that the parties will successfully negotiate and enter into a definitive set of agreements," Atos said in a statement.
French drinks maker Pernod Ricard (EPA:PERP) shares gained as the company posted forecast-beating first-half profit and sales, helped by price increases in its key Chinese and US markets.
Banks were also in focus with Standard Chartered (LON:STAN) shares up as the Asia-focused bank reported a 28% rise in annual pretax profit and unveiled a new $1bn share buyback program.
Germany's Commerzbank (ETR:CBKG) also gained as net profit rose a better-than-expected 12% in the fourth quarter.
Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com