ROME: European stock markets rose across the board on Friday after minutes from the Federal Reserve indicated the U.S. central bank is in no rush to raise interest rates.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index SXXP, +0.87% jumped 0.7% to 364.06, setting it on track for a sixth straight session of gains, which would be the longest winning streak since mid-July.
The optimism in European stock markets comes after a shockingly bad U.S. labor market report out last Friday fueled expectations the Fed won’t start to tighten monetary policy this year. Minutes from the central bank’s Sept. 17 meeting — held before the lackluster jobs report — supported that notion. In the minutes, released Thursday after European markets closed, policy makers expressed concern over the weak inflation outlook in the U.S. and slowing global growth.
