MW: Europe stocks stay higher after U.S. retail sales
By Sara Sjolin
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets held on to gains in afternoon action on Wednesday, after data showed U.S. retail inched 0.1% higher in January, a slight beat compared to market expectations. The Stoxx Europe 600 index XX:SXXP +0.24% traded 0.2% higher at 287.65. Germany's DAX 30 index DX:DAX +0.64% rose 0.6% to 7,706.02, while France's CAC 40 index FR:PX1 +0.16% added 0.1% to 3,690.12. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index UK:UKX +0.17% rose 0.2% to 6,348.40.
