European stocks climbed to a six-week high as Publicis (PUB) Groupe SA posted increased profit, London Stock Exchange Group Plc reported higher revenue and fewer Americans than forecast filed jobless-benefit claims.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 0.8 percent to 299.53 at 4:30 p.m. in London, the highest level since June 4. The gauge increased 0.6 percent yesterday as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the pace of the economic recovery will determine when the U.S. central bank starts reducing its program of quantitative easing.

U.S. jobless-benefit claims dropped by 24,000 to 334,000 last week, the fewest since early May, Labor Department figures showed today. The median forecast of economists projected a reading of 345,000.

A gauge of manufacturing in the Philadelphia region increased to 19.8 in July, the highest level since March 2011, from 12.5 the prior month. Readings greater than zero signal expansion. The median forecast of economists called for a reading of 8.

National benchmark indexes advanced in all of the 18 western European markets, except Norway

FTSE 100 6,634.36 +62.43 +0.95% CAC 40 3,927.79 +55.77 +1.44% DAX 8,337.09 +82.37 +1.00%

Publicis climbed 3.7 percent to 59.98 euros in Paris trading as first-half net income rose 15 percent to 314 million euros. Revenue increased 8.7 percent to 3.35 billion euros, topping the 3.31 billion-euro average of five analysts’ estimates.

WPP Plc (WPP), the world’s biggest advertising company, advanced 3.7 percent to 1,211 pence in London trading.

LSE advanced 7.4 percent to 1,590 pence, the highest price since February 2008, as the operator of Europe’s oldest independent bourse reported a 39 percent increase in first-quarter revenue.

BioMerieux (BIM) jumped 3.8 percent to 76.54 euros, the largest gain in eight months. The French maker of tests for HIV and hepatitis reported sales for the first half of 754 million euros and confirmed its revenue-growth forecast.

Ericsson retreated 4.8 percent to 75.80 kronor after it reported revenue that missed estimates as competition with Huawei Technologies Co. for contracts to build and service phone systems intensified. Second-quarter sales were little changed at 55.3 billion kronor ($8.4 billion), compared with the 56 billion-krona average forecast of analysts.

U.S. stock futures rose as jobless claims fell to a two-month low and investors awaited testimony to lawmakers by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  14,808.5 +193.46 +1.32%

Hang Seng 21,345.22 -26.65 -0.12%

Shanghai Composite 2,023.4 -21.53 -1.05%

FTSE 6,622.95 +51.02 +0.78%

CAC 3,898.49 +26.47 +0.68%

DAX 8,280.31 +25.59 +0.31%

Crude oil $106.89 +0.39%

Gold $1284.20 +0.52%

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Other:

American Express (AXP) reiterated with Mkt Perform at FBR Capital, target raised from $64 to $80

Most European stocks gained as Publicis Groupe SA posted increased profit while Ericsson AB and SAP AG reported sales that missed estimates. U.S. index futures and Asian shares were little changed.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke delivers his second day of semi-annual testimony to Congress on monetary policy today, facing questions from the Senate Banking Committee. Yesterday he said that the pace of the economic recovery will determine when the U.S. central bank starts reducing its program of quantitative easing.

Publicis climbed 2.8 percent to 59.49 euros in Paris trading as first-half net income rose 15 percent to 314 million euros. Revenue increased 8.7 percent to 3.35 billion euros, topping the 3.31 billion-euro average of five analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

WPP Plc, the world’s biggest advertising company, advanced 2.4 percent to 1,196 pence in

Ericsson retreated 4.3 percent to 76.20 kronor after it reported revenue that missed estimates as competition with Huawei Technologies Co. for contracts to build and service phone systems intensified. Second-quarter sales were little changed at 55.3 billion kronor ($8.4 billion), compared with the 56 billion-krona average forecast of analysts. Ericsson’s gross margin, a measure of profitability, also fell short of estimates.

SAP dropped 2.1 percent to 56.48 euros. Sales of software licenses, an indicator of future revenue, slipped about 3 percent to 982 million euros ($1.3 billion) excluding currency swings in the second quarter, the Walldorf, Germany-based company said. Analysts had projected 1.02 billion euros, according to the average of seven estimates.

FTSE 100 6,593.5 +21.57 +0.33%

CAC 40 3,881.26 +9.24 +0.24%

DAX 8,252.11 -2.61 -0.03%

Asian stocks outside Japan fell after the International Monetary Fund said risks are rising for slower growth in China. Japanese shares rose as the yen fell.

Nikkei 225 14,808.5 +193.46 +1.32%

Hang Seng 21,345.42 -26.45 -0.12%

S&P/ASX 200 4,993.42 +11.74 +0.24%

Shanghai Composite 2,023.4 -21.53 -1.05%

China Shanshui Cement Group slumped 11 percent in Hong Kong after saying first-half profit will drop.

Innolux Corp. and AU Optronics Corp. fell at least 4.6 percent in Taipei on a report Taiwan and Korean panel makers cut output this month.

SoftBank Corp., a Japanese mobile phone operator, rose 4 percent after forming a fuel-cell venture with Bloom Energy Corp.

Nikkei 225 14,615.04 15,92 0,11%

Hang Seng 21,349.65 37,27 0,17%

S & P / ASX 200 4,981.68 -4.33 -0.09%

Shanghai Composite 2,044.92 -20.80 -1.01%

FTSE 100 6,571.93 +15.58 +0.24%

CAC 40 3,872.02 +20.99 +0.55%

DAX 8,254.72 +53.67 +0.65%

Dow +18.07 15,469.92 +0.12%

Nasdaq +10.72 3,609.22 +0.30%

S&P +4.88 1,681.14 +0.29%