European stocks advanced, heading for their biggest weekly gain this year, as better-than-forecast euro-area economic growth and U.S. consumer-confidence reports outweighed worse-than-estimated U.S. industrial output data.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.5 percent. The benchmark gauge rose 2.5 percent this week as comments by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen fueled optimism the U.S. economy can withstand reduced monthly bond purchases.

“Despite weaker industrial production, we see investors remain calm,” said Kai Fachinger, who oversees about $700 million as portfolio manager at Robeco SAM AG in Zurich. “For the moment, underlying sentiment remains positive. Also, macroeconomic news out of Europe was good today, so that provides a bit of a cushion.”

The euro-area economy expanded faster in the final quarter of 2013 than economists forecast, led by Germany and France, data from the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg showed. Gross domestic product in the euro zone rose 0.3 percent after a 0.1 percent increase in the third quarter, beating the median forecast of 0.2 percent.

Preliminary data showed that U.S. consumer confidence was unchanged in February. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index remained at 81.2 this month, the same as in January. The median estimate of economists called for a drop to 80.2.

Factory production in the U.S. unexpectedly declined in January by the most since May 2009, according to Federal Reserve figures published today in Washington.

The 0.8 percent decrease at manufacturers followed a revised 0.3 percent gain the prior month that was weaker than initially reported. The median forecast of economists called for a 0.1 percent advance. Total industrial production dropped 0.3 percent.

National benchmark indexes advanced in 17 of the 18 western-European markets today.

FTSE 100 6,661.98 +2.56 +0.04% CAC 40 4,336.07 +23.27 +0.54% DAX 9,649.65 +52.88 +0.55%

Italy’s FTSE MIB added 1.7 percent to the highest level since July 2011 as Prime Minister Enrico Letta resigned, possibly clearing the way for a new government led by his chief rival Matteo Renzi.

ThyssenKrupp climbed 4 percent to 20.50 euros. Adjusted earnings from continuing operations before interest and taxes more than doubled to 247 million euros ($338 million) in the fiscal first quarter, exceeding the 218.7 million-euro average of estimates.

A gauge of European mining companies posted the best performance of the 19 industry groups in the Stoxx 600 as gold headed for its biggest weekly advance since October and silver was set for its longest rally since March 2008.

Fresnillo, which produces gold and silver in Mexico, climbed 5.5 percent to 973 pence. Polymetal International Plc gained 3.6 percent to 659.5 pence.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals Plc increased 4.6 percent to 1,301 pence after the maker of generic drugs raised its full-year revenue growth forecast to about 23 percent from a previous prediction of about 20 percent.

Ladbrokes Plc added 2.8 percent to 149.7 pence after UBS AG raised the U.K. operator of betting shops to buy from neutral, citing recent declines in the share price. Ladbrokes has fallen 16 percent so far this year.

Schindler declined 1.4 percent to 131.50 Swiss francs after the company said net profit in 2013 fell to 463 million francs ($519 million) from 730 million francs a year earlier. Schindler also said sales rose 8.4 percent in local currencies to 8.81 billion francs, beating analyst estimates of 8.76 billion francs.

U.S. stock-index futures were little changed, before data that may show weakening industrial-output growth and consumer confidence.

Global markets:

Nikkei 14,313.03 -221.71 -1.53%

Hang Seng 22,298.41 +132.88 +0.60%

Shanghai Composite 2,115.85 +17.45 +0.83%

FTSE 6,658.07 -1.35 -0.02%

CAC 4,329.18 +16.38 +0.38%

DAX 9,641.13 +44.36 +0.46%

Crude oil $99.66 (-0.69%)

Gold $1315.80 (+1.21%).

European stocks advanced, extending their weekly gain, as investors awaited U.S. consumer confidence data, and a report showed the euro-area economy grew faster in the fourth quarter than anticipated. U.S. stock-index futures and Asian shares were little changed.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.4 percent to 332.64 at 10:24 a.m. in London.

The euro-area economy expanded more in the final quarter of 2013 than forecast, led by Germany and France, data from the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg showed today. Gross domestic product in the euro zone rose 0.3 percent after a 0.1 percent increase in the third quarter, beating the median forecast of 0.2 percent in a Bloomberg News survey.

ThyssenKrupp climbed 3.7 percent to 20.43 euros. Adjusted earnings from continuing operations before interest and taxes more than doubled to 247 million euros ($338 million) in the fiscal first quarter, exceeding the 218.7 million-euro average of 10 estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Anglo American, which runs the world’s biggest platinum producer and Africa’s largest iron ore miner, added 1.4 percent to 1,554.5 pence. The company posted underlying earnings for 2013 of $2.7 billion, beating analyst estimates of $2.38 billion. Full-year sales rose 1 percent to $33.06 billion, while the net loss narrowed to $961 million from a loss of $1.49 billion in 2012.

Schindler declined 3.9 percent to 128.10 Swiss francs after the company said profit in 2013 fell to 463 million francs ($519 million) from 730 million francs a year earlier. Schindler also said sales rose 8.4 percent in local currencies to 8.81 billion francs, beating analyst estimates of 8.76 billion francs.

FTSE 100 6,664.74 +5.32 +0.08%

CAC 40 4,331.36 +18.56 +0.43%

DAX 9,654.66 +57.89 +0.60%

A gauge of Asian stocks outside Japan climbed, headed for its biggest weekly gain in more than four months, as health-care and information technology companies advanced. Stocks in Tokyo tumbled after the yen strengthened.

Nikkei 225 14,313.03 -221.71 -1.53%

S&P/ASX 200 5,356.26 +48.15 +0.91%

Shanghai Composite 2,115.85 +17.45 +0.83%

Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Co. jumped 5.3 percent in Hong Kong to lead health-care companies higher.

Tencent Holdings Ltd. rose to a record after Jefferies Hong Kong Ltd. boosted its target price on Asia’s largest Internet company by market value.

Kirin Holdings Co. fell 9.2 percent after the Japanese beverage maker forecast profit that missed analysts’ estimates.