European markets open higher as investors focus on euro zone data, earnings

European markets opened higher on Thursday ahead of a busy day of earnings and data in the region. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index opened 0.9% higher, with most sectors trading positively. Food giant Nestle reported lower than expected full-year sales, leading to a 3.7% drop in its shares. The euro zone’s services and manufacturing purchasing managers’ index data for February will be released today, providing insights into business activity. Other notable earnings announcements include Zurich Insurance, Iberdrola, Telefonica, Lloyds Banking Group, Rolls-Royce, WPP, Anglo American, and Hargreaves Lansdown. Japan’s Nikkei reached a record high, while S&P 500 futures rose due to Nvidia’s positive performance. European markets are expected to open higher.