European shares headed higher in tandem with their Asian peers, and after the Fed's minutes calmed investors about the future pace of rate hikes. The pan-European index rose to its highest in three months before steadying to 1,505 with a 0.62% gain. Germany's DAX gained 108 points, or 1% to 11,068. Britain's FTSE advanced 50 points, or 0.80% to 6,328. France's CAC added 10 points, or 0.21% to 4,916.

Wall Street opened lower, with Dow Jones down 32 points, or 0.19% to 17,706. NASDAQ lost 3.5 points, or 0.07% to 5,070. S&P 500 gave up about three points, or 0.12% to 2,081.

Last week's unemployment claims for the U.S. came at 271K, better than the 272K expected, and an indicator that tracks the manufacturing sector in Philadelphia came at 1.9 for November, better than the 0.1 expected. The barrage of good results didn't help the dollar however, with its index down 0.53% to 99.13. Dollar fell 0.58% against Euro to 1.0721. It lost 0.31% against Sterling to 1.5280. Dollar gave up 0.56% against the yen to 122.94.

ECB minutes from the bank's last meeting in October showed that the bank officials believe their inflation targets might be missed again under the current policies, enhancing expectations of more easing in December, which helped Euro regain its gains against Sterling to 0.7015, with a 0.24% profit. Euro was flat against the yen at 131.78.

U.S. oil prices resumed their slide, with the oil futures for January down 18 cents, or 0.33% to $41.86 a barrel. Brent futures gained 16 cents, or 0.37% to $44.30 a barrel.

Gold futures jumped 12 dollars, or 1.12% to $1,080.50 an ounce. Silver futures rose 24 cents, or 1.77% to $14.33 an ounce.