Summary Frankfurt's DAX 30 advanced 0.33 percent to 11,390.38 points.
LONDON (AFP) - European stock markets rose at the start of trading on Thursday, with investors awaiting a key meeting of the European Central Bank.
London s benchmark FTSE 100 index edged up 0.04 percent to 6,916.98 points, also before the Bank of England gives its latest interest rate decision.
Frankfurt s DAX 30 advanced 0.33 percent to 11,390.38 points and the CAC 40 index in Paris gained 0.24 percent to 4,929.04 compared with Wednesday s close.
The euro meanwhile hit a new 11-year low against the dollar Thursday as investors waited for the European Central Bank to announce details of its bond-purchase programme.
With the ECB s decision-making council meeting on Thursday, President Mario Draghi is set to unveil details of the bank s 1.1 trillion euro quantitative-easing plan, due to be launched this month to ward off deflation.
The ECB s stance is in stark contrast to the Federal Reserve s plan to exit crisis support, having ended its asset-purchasing plan in October. It is now planning to raise interest rates this year.
