European Stocks Rise

European stocks rose today, Thursday, with the "Stoxx 600" index up by 0.1%. The index recorded its largest percentage gains since early June during the previous session after a slower-than-expected increase in the U.S. consumer price index bolstered expectations that the Federal Reserve may conclude interest rate hikes after July. Weak trade data from China affected risk appetite, while the British economy shrank less than expected in May. Shares in the industrial sector, which are sensitive to news related to China, saw the largest losses on the index. Barratt Developments' stock fell by 4% after the UK's largest housebuilder indicated that it would build significantly fewer homes during the current financial year, whereas Swatch's stock rose by 6.4% after the watchmaker announced record growth in the first half of the year.