• Unilever climbed 7.9pc as its second-quarter sales fell far less than feared. Shares in Nestle and Danone rose about 1.5pc each.

• Unilever was the biggest boost to the STOXX 600 with a 7.8pc jump as its second-quarter sales fell far less than feared. Shares in Nestle SA and Danone SA rose nearly 2pc each.

• The pan-European STOXX 600 jumped 1.1pc to its highest level since March 5, while an index of euro zone blue-chip stocks was up 1.7pc at its highest since March 3.

• The United States also said it was studying the national security risks of social media applications including China's TikTok and WeChat.
• China said it will respond to "bullying" tactics from Washington, but that it will stick to the Phase 1 trade deal the countries reached last year.

• Investors scaled back on risk as the daily count of cases hit new highs in California and Texas, two of the United States' most populous states, while Beijing ramped up movement curbs.

• Investors scaled back on risk as the daily count of cases hit new highs in California and Texas, two of the United States' most populous states, while Beijing ramped up movement curbs on Wednesday.

• Global stock markets also began the week on downbeat note as the outbreak in Beijing, which has been traced to a wholesale food market, revived fears of the economic damage from the health crisis.

• The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 2.4pc, slipping further from its 5.7pc fall last week, with the exporter-heavy German index leading declines.

• STOXX 600 down 5.7% for the week.
• Travel and leisure stocks the worst weekly performers, down 11%.
• France's Interparfums jumps on deal with Moncler.

• Battered shares of automakers, banks, travel and leisure and oil and gas companies - most geared to economic growth - rose between 1.5pc and 2.4pc.

• The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 2.5pc, its fourth straight day of decline, with travel and leisure stocks sliding 4.3pc on fears of a further hit to demand.

• The pan-European STOXX 600 index slipped 0.4pc, but held near its early March highs, while eurozone stocks were also down 0.4pc.
• The bank delivers its policy decision at 1145 GMT and President Christine Lagarde holds a news conference at 1230 GMT.

• Early gains on the continent were led by insurers, automakers, banks and oil and gas stocks.
• Massive stimulus from major central banks and hopes of a COVID-19 vaccine have helped the STOXX 600 recover about 35pc from March lows, leaving it about 16p

The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 1pc by 0723 GMT and hovered near its strongest level since March 9, led by gains in banks, miners and travel & leisure stocks.