European shares were up as investors raise bets on new ECB stimulus in its next meeting at December 3. The shares were also supported by new data, which showed private loans in the Eurozone rising 1.2% y\y in October, while another survey tracking money circulation showed it growing by 5.3% y\y, better than the 4.9% growth expected. The pan-European index FTSEurofirst 300 touched a more-than-three-month high at 1,516 with a 0.83% gain. The Eurozone-specific index Stoxx 50 hit a similar high at 3,497 with a 1.05% profit. France's CAC 40 rose 52 points, or 1.07% to 4,945, while Britain's FTSE 100 added 40 points, or 0.66% to 6,380. Germany's DAX jumped 139 points, or 1.26% to 11,311. U.S. markets are closed for Thanksgiving.  

Crude oil prices resumed their fall as supply glut worries float back into traders' minds, with Brent futures for January tumbling 73 cents, or 1.59% to $45.45 a barrel. U.S. crude futures lost 32 cents, or 0.74% to $42.72 a barrel.

Euro remained under pressure with the prospects of more monetary easing looming closer; Euro traded at 1.0619 against the dollar, near a seven-month low touched on Wednesday. It fell for the fifth straight session against yen to 130.11 with a 0.20% loss.

Dollar was flat in thin holiday trading, with its index at 99.82. It rose 0.07% against sterling to 1.5116. It slipped 0.18% against the advancing yen to 122.53.

Gold futures gave up their earlier gains, trading flat at $1,070 an ounce. Silver futures held on to some gains, trading up 4 cents, or 0.28% to $14.19 an ounce.