(Reuters) - European shares rose to a record high on Thursday, helped by China's plan to cut tariffs on some U.S. goods and a swathe of strong earnings.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index (STOXX) rose as much as 0.7% to a record high of 426.700.
China said on Thursday it plans to halve tariffs on some U.S. goods, which could help improve negotiating conditions for a second phase of a trade deal after the signing of a Phase 1 agreement between the two countries earlier this year.
The initial agreement had signalled no further escalation in a prolonged trade war which had severely hampered global economic growth.
In Europe, China-sensitive basic resources (SXPP) and automobile (SXAP) subindexes rose 1.8% and 1%, respectively.
France's third-biggest bank Societe Generale SA (PA:SOGN) rose 0.5% after reporting a stronger capital position in its fourth-quarter results.