Key Points: An increasing number of European countries have cautiously started to ease restrictive measures on public life and businesses this week and Germany is the latest to set out a road map for how it will reopen its economy.
European markets advanced on Thursday as investors digested the economic impact of the coronavirus on the global economy and countries begin plotting an exit from lockdown measures.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 climbed 1.1% in early trade, with travel and leisure stocks adding 3.2% to lead gains as almost all sectors and major bourses entered positive territory.
An increasing number of European countries have cautiously started to ease restrictive measures on public life and businesses this week and Germany is the latest to set out a road map for how it will reopen its economy. Smaller shops will be able to start reopening on April 20 as long as they can implement good hygiene measures and schools will reopen on May 4. Mass gatherings have been banned until Aug. 31, however.
Meanwhile in the U.S., President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the country has "passed the peak" of the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 639,000 people in America.
"While we must remain vigilant, it is clear that our aggressive strategy is working," Trump said at a White House news briefing with coronavirus task force on Wednesday. "The battle continues, but the data suggests that nationwide we have passed the peak on new cases."
On the data front, euro zone industrial production figures for February are due.
In terms of individual share price action, Cinema operator Cineworld led the surge for travel and leisure stocks, jumping more than 20% in early trade, while easyJet climbed more than 9%.
At the other end of the European blue chip index, investment manager M&G fell 6.7% and French utility EDF dropped 5.7% after predicting that its nuclear output will slump to a record low in 2020.
— CNBC's William Fauer contributed reporting to this story
原文地址：https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/16/european-markets-germany-set-to-ease-lockdown-cautiously.html