By Barbara Kollmeyer
MADRID (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets extended gains on Thursday after U.S. data showed weekly jobless claims at their lowest level since May 2008 and the Empire State manufacturing index at its highest level in seven months. The Stoxx Europe 600 index XX:SXXP +1.43% rose 1.5% to 236, after being bouyed earlier by a pair of well-received purchasing managers' surveys and a smooth sale of Spanish bonds. The German DAX 30 index DX:DAX +1.76% rose 2% to 5,789.26 and the French CAC 40 index FR:PX1 +1.39% rose 1.4% to 3,019.34. The FTSE 100 index UK:UKX +1.16% rose 1.2% to 5,430.60.
