European stock markets closed higher on Thursday, as upbeat trade on Wall Street boosted markets elsewhere.

Europe's leading Blue-chip index, EURO STOXX 50 gained 8.87 points or 0.3 percent to settle at 2,973.77. UK's benchmark index FTSE 100 went up 56.99 points or 0.85 percent to close at 6,730.30.

Meanwhile, Germany's benchmark index DAX gained 52.80 points or 0.51 percent to end at 10,431.20. French benchmark index CAC 40 went up 2.96 points or 0.07 percent to end at 4,373.22.