UKX FTSE 100 Index

By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

Trading is thin due to Ascension Day

European stock markets rose for the first time in five sessions on Thursday, with optimism over a rally in oil prices outweighing concerns over a slowdown in growth in China's services sector.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.3% to end at 332.86, climbing back from the lowest closing level since April 7 reached on Wednesday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/european-stocks-wobble-after-earnings-deluge-2016-05-04).

Trading volumes were lower than usual because of Ascension Day, which kept several markets closed (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/which-markets-are-closed-for-ascension-thursday-2016-05-05), including Switzerland, Austria and the Scandinavian bourses.

Oil boost: The overall markets took a cue from a positive day for oil prices, with West Texas Intermediate up almost 3% at $45.05 a barrel and Brent rising 2.3% to $45.63.

Read:How a raging inferno in Alberta is hobbling oil production (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-a-raging-inferno-in-alberta-is-hobbling-oil-production-2016-05-05)

"After being hit yesterday afternoon by slightly higher than expected EIA oil inventories, the oil price has rallied once more on the news that the Canadian wildfires are disrupting (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-prices-rise-as-canadian-wildfire-threatens-output-2016-05-05) output from Canadian oil sands production," said Richard Perry, analyst at Hantec Markets, in a note.

Shares of Tullow Oil PLC (TLW.LN) jumped 6.1% and SBM Offshore NV (SBMO.AE) added 0.7% and Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN) (RDSB.LN) picked up 1.3%.

Repsol SA (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/repsol-profit-plunges-more-than-40-2016-05-05)(REPYY) gained 4.7%. Spain's largest energy company on Thursday reported a 40% plunge in first-quarter net profit, hit by falling energy prices.

The optimism spreading from the oil market also helped offset data from China showing service activity in the world's second largest economy grew at a slower pace in April (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-services-index-reflects-slowing-growth-2016-05-04). Asia markets closed mixed (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/asian-stocks-stymied-by-weak-china-services-data-2016-05-05).

Movers & shakers: Shares of BT Group PLC (BT.A.LN) rose 2.6% after the U.K. telecom company's fourth-quarter earnings improved (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bt-group-sees-profit-boosted-by-sports-channels-2016-05-05), boosted by broadband services and sports channels.

IMI PLC (IMI.LN) gained 0.9% after the specialist engineering company reiterated its full-year outlook (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/imi-backs-outlook-as-tough-conditions-continue-2016-05-05) amid continuing challenging economic conditions.

On a more downbeat note, Centrica PLC (CNA.LN) slumped 9.8% after the energy supplier said it plans to raise around GBP750 million ($1.09 billion) (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/centrica-to-raise-109-billion-from-share-offer-2016-05-05) from a private placement of shares to fund two acquisitions and pare debt in light of mounting pressure on its credit rating.

Indexes: Germany's DAX 30 index gained 0.2% to 9,851.86, while France's CAC 40 index slipped 0.1% to 4,319.46.

The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index rose 0.1% (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-rally-lifts-uk-stocks-for-the-first-time-in-four-days-2016-05-05) to 6,117.25.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 05, 2016 12:13 ET (16:13 GMT)

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