European shares inched higher on Thursday on hopes fresh coronavirus-related curbs and restrictions may not be needed going into the new year, even as a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant kept a lid on gains.
The pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.2 percent, after edging 0.1 percent lower on Wednesday, with the tech sector and defensives, including healthcare and real estate, in the lead.
