European stock indices continued to rise after their good start although Eurozone Retail Sales were worse than expected (MoM -1.3% / forecast -0.6%) but good company results helped the markets continue its way north. UK's FTSE 100 index was up 0.89% to 6,511.11 points. Germany's DAX 30 climbed 1.23% to 9,279.19 points, while France's CAC 40 gained 1.24% to 4,181.33.

But the bullish markets could come to an end and we might see some downside if the European Central Bank fails on Thursday to deliver a plan for a new economic stimulus.

"The market is rising today, but without real conviction. There's no real trend on the market at the moment, and flows from investors remain thin," said Jean-Louis Cussac, head of Paris-based firm Perceval Finance.

About halfway into Europe's earnings season, 64 percent of companies have managed to meet or beat profit forecasts, and 59 percent met or beat revenue forecasts, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine data.