European stocks rise at open; London up 0.48pc

LONDON: European stock markets rose at the start of trading Thursday after gains across Asia and in the United States on optimism that Greece's debt swap would be successful and after strong US jobs data.

Investors in Europe were meanwhile looking ahead to interest rate and other monetary policy decisions from the ECB and Bank of England due on Thursday.

London's FTSE 100 index gained 0.48 percent to 5,819.00 points at the open.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 climbed 0.78 percent to 6,723.33 points and in Paris the CAC 40 grew 0.55 percent to stand at 3,410.94.