Europe open: Stoxx hits fresh record high on rally

(Sharecast News) - European shares continued their rally this week to high record highs amid efforts to end the US government shutdown and a raft of corporate earnings. The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was up 0.53% in early deals to hit a fresh intra-day high of 583.4. All major bourses were higher.

A vote in the US Senate to approve a compromise bill to resume funding until the end of January was passed on Monday. It still needs lower house and presidential approval.

In economic news, German inflation eased slightly last month to 2.3%, the federal statistics office ‌said on Wednesday, confirming ‍preliminary data.

On a harmonised basis compared with other European Union countries, inflation stood at 2.4% year-on-year in September.

On the equities front, shares in UK energy utility SSE surged after results.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com