Europe open: Stoxx hits record high as earnings boost sentiment

(Sharecast News) - European shares hit fresh highs at the open on Thursday amid another flurry of corporate earnings, with a £9.9bn takeover of Schroders by US investment manager Nuveen boosting sentiment. The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index had gained 0.48% to 624 by 0826, having touched 625.9 in early deals. France's CAC 40 also hit a new high of 8,437, while Germany's DAX jumped 0.91% and Italy's MIB was up by 0.87%.

In equity news, Schroders shares jumped by a third after Nuveen - which is part of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America - offered 612p per share.

The price includes 590p a share in cash, a 29% premium to the closing share price on Wednesday and permitted dividends of up to 22p per share.

EssilorLuxotica and Hermes were both in the green after results while Dutch payments processor Adyen's slumped on weaker than expected transaction volumes and cautious guidance despite revenue growing by more than a fifth in the second half of 2025.

Shares in Embracer surged as the Swedish video games group reported a quarterly operating profit above analysts' estimates.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com