Summary Asia's main equity markets experienced mixed fortunes on Thursday.
LONDON (AFP) - European stock markets climbed on Thursday after US Federal Reserve minutes hinted that US interest rates may rise sooner than expected, dealers said.
London s benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 0.24 percent to 6,771.90 points in midday deals in the British capital.
Frankfurt s DAX 30 gained 0.47 percent to 9,358.59 points and in Paris the CAC 40 index won 0.65 percent to 4,269.55 compared with Wednesday s close.
"European equities have opened higher today after the Fed kept the market happy," said Spreadex trader David White.
Minutes from the July 29-30 Fed meeting showed policy makers increasingly at odds over how strong the US labour market is and what that means for inflation -- a key issue in planning rate hikes next year.
The intensifying debate signalled an increased, albeit still measured, level of hawkish sentiment in the Fed that could speed up any rate rise, dealers said.
"We re certainly seeing more emphasis on the pace of the recovery at these meetings and the minutes from the last meeting showed discussions around how to raise rates when the time comes," said Alpari analyst Craig Erlam.
- Mixed eurozone survey data -
Investors meanwhile digested mixed surveys from private research group Markit for the latest reading on the eurozone economy.
Markit s purchasing managers index (PMI) measure of output in the eurozone s manufacturing and services sectors registered a figure of 52.8 in August.
This figure held above the 50-point level that signals growth or downturn, but was lower than a revised figure of 53.8 for July.
"August s fall in the eurozone composite PMI was the fourth in six months, adding to signs that the region s feeble recovery is already over," said Capital Economics analyst Jennifer KcKeown.
Broken down by country, Markit data continued to show fragility in the key economies of France and Germany.
French data managed to hit the 50 mark in July, after three straight months of showing contraction, but the country was still mired in stagnation.
At 54.9 points, Germany remained firmly in expansion territory, but this was lower than the 55.7 points in July, brought down by a drop in manufacturing output, a crucial sector.
In foreign exchange deals, the European single currency recovered to $1.3266, having stuck a one-year low at $1.3242 in earlier Asian trade after the Fed s rate hike hint.
The euro firmed to 80.01 pence from 79.90 pence late in New York on Wednesday, while the pound eased to $1.6580 from $1.6593.
The British pound had risen on Wednesday on increased prospects of a rise to British interest rates before the end of 2014.
The price of gold meanwhile dropped to $1,280.26 an ounce on Thursday, from $1,295 on Wednesday on the London Bullion Market.
- Asian markets diverge -
Asia s main equity markets experienced mixed fortunes on Thursday on the back of weaker-than-expected economic data from China.
Hong Kong lost 0.75 percent and Shanghai was off 0.40 percent as data from British banking giant HSBC showed China s manufacturing growth slowed in August, indicating a recovery in the world s second-largest economy has yet to take hold.
Seoul dropped 1.20 percent, but Tokyo gained 0.77 percent and Sydney added 0.42 percent.
The performance in Asia came after New York s Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 0.35 percent at 16,979.13 on Wednesday.
