European shares rose for a third day, heading for their biggest weekly jump since April, as insurers and banks rallied.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced 0.5 percent to 321.11 at 4:38 p.m. in London, bringing its increase for the week to 3.7 percent, after the Federal Reserve said it would start paring its record stimulus. Shares extended their rally today after a report showed the U.S. economy expanded in the third quarter at a faster rate than previously forecast.

The Stoxx 600 climbed 1.7 percent yesterday for its biggest two-day gain since June after the Federal Open Market Committee said Dec. 18 that it will lower monthly asset purchases to $75 billion from $85 billion. The central bank also said it will probably hold key interest rates within the current range of zero to 0.25 percent “well past the time that the unemployment rate declines below 6.5 percent,” according to its statement.

U.S. gross domestic product climbed at a 4.1 percent annualized rate in the quarter ended September, Commerce Department figures showed. That’s the strongest pace since the final three months of 2011 and up from a previous estimate of 3.6 percent. The median forecast of economists projected a 3.6 percent pace after 2.5 percent in the second quarter.

Data from Nuremberg-based GfK SE showed a gauge of German consumer confidence will climb to 7.6 in January from 7.4 this month, the highest reading since August 2007. A U.K. consumer sentiment index by GfK NOP Ltd. dropped 1 point in December from November to minus 13, the London-based research group said. The median forecast of economists called for a 1-point increase to minus 11.

National benchmark indexes rose in 16 of the 18 western-European markets.

FTSE 100 6,606.58 +21.88 +0.33% CAC 40 4,193.77 +16.74 +0.40% DAX 9,400.18 +64.44 +0.69%

Carnival advanced 3.3 percent to 2,389 pence. Credit Suisse raised its rating to outperform from neutral and Natixis increased it to neutral from reduce. The world’s largest cruise operator posted fourth-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates yesterday.

German healthcare provider Rhoen Klinikum AG jumped 5.2 percent to 21.43 euros, its highest price since June 2012. Shareholder B Braun Melsungen AG withdrew its lawsuit against Rhoen-Klinikum’s sale of 43 clinics and other assets to Fresenius SE’s Helios unit, according to a statement.

Telenet Group Holding NV rose 2.9 percent to 42.12 euros after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. upgraded the stock to buy from neutral, citing growth prospects.

BAE retreated 4.5 percent to 422.1 pence. Europe’s largest defense company said yesterday that the United Arab Emirates stopped talks to buy its Eurofighter Typhoon, just weeks after Prime Minister David Cameron lobbied for them in Dubai. Negotiations with Saudi Arabia over pricing are also dragging out, delaying BAE’s efforts to beef up its export business.

Lundin Petroleum AB lost 7.8 percent to 121.20 kronor after Norway said the Swedish oil explorer drilled a dry well.

U.S. stock futures rose,  as data showing faster-than-estimated growth boosted confidence in the world’s largest economy.

Global markets

Nikkei 15,870.42 +11.20 +0.07%

Hang Seng 22,812.18 -76.57 -0.33%

Shanghai Composite 2,084.79 -43.00 -2.02%

FTSE 6,601.34 +16.64 +0.25%

CAC 4,181.09 +4.06 +0.10%

DAX 9,382.73 +46.99 +0.50%

Crude oil $98.63 (+0.85%).

Gold $1191.60 (-0.17%).

European shares advanced for a second day, heading for their biggest weekly jump since April, after the U.S. Federal Reserve said it would slow the pace of its bond buying. U.S. stock-index futures rose and Asian shares were little changed.

The Fed’s Open Market Committee said Dec. 18 that it will lower monthly asset purchases to $75 billion from $85 billion. The central bank also said it will probably hold key interest rates within the current range of zero to 0.25 percent “well past the time that the unemployment rate declines below 6.5 percent,” according to their statement.

In Germany, data from Nuremberg-based GfK SE showed a gauge of consumer confidence in Europe’s largest economy will climb to 7.6 in January from 7.4 this month, the highest reading since August 2007. A U.K. consumer sentiment index by GfK NOP Ltd. dropped 1 point in December from November to minus 13, the London-based research group said. The median forecast of 24 economists in a Bloomberg News survey was for a 1-point increase to minus 11.

The European Union lost its top credit rating from Standard & Poor’s, which cut its long-term rating to AA+ from AAA, citing weaker creditworthiness.

Telenet rose 2.6 percent to 41.98 euros. Goldman Sachs raised its rating on the stock to buy from neutral, citing growth prospects.

Financial companies and banks in the Stoxx 600 posted the biggest gains as a group. Italy’s Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA rallied 4.8 percent and Deutsche Boerse AG climbed 2.3 percent.

Carnival Corp. advanced 3.1 percent to 2,384 pence. Credit Suisse Group AG and Natixis SA raised their ratings on the shares after the world’s largest cruise operator posted fourth-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates yesterday.

BAE retreated 4.9 percent to 420.3 pence. Europe’s largest defense company said yesterday that the United Arab Emirates stopped talks to buy its Eurofighter Typhoon, just weeks after Prime Minister David Cameron personally lobbied for them in Dubai. Negotiations with Saudi Arabia over pricing are also dragging out, delaying BAE’s efforts to beef up its export business.

FTSE 100 6,584.86 +0.16 0.00%

CAC 40 4,169.6 -7.43 -0.18%

DAX 9,366.43 +30.69 +0.33%

Asia’s benchmark stock index fell for the first time in four days as Chinese shares slid on concern funding costs for lenders will remain high even after the central bank injected liquidity. Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose as the yen reached a five-year low.

Nikkei 225 15,870.42 +11.20 +0.07%

Hang Seng 22,812.18 -76.57 -0.33%

S&P/ASX 200 5,265.22 +62.99 +1.21%

Shanghai Composite 2,084.79 -43.00 -2.02%

Ping An Insurance  Co., China’s second-largest insurer, declined 4.6 percent to lead declines on the Hang Seng Index.

Mazda Motor Corp., a Japanese carmaker that gets 73 percent of sales abroad, climbed 3.5 percent.

Telstra Corp. rose 1.8 percent, pushing Australia’s benchmark index to the biggest weekly gain in almost eight months, after agreeing to sell its Hong Kong mobile phone business.

Nikkei 225 15,859.22 +271.42 +1.74%

S&P/ASX 200 5,202.23 +106.13 +2.08%

Shanghai Composite 2,127.79 -20.49 -0.95%

FTSE 100 6,584.7 +92.62 +1.43%

CAC 40 4,177.03 +67.52 +1.64%

DAX 9,335.74 +153.99 +1.68%

Dow +11.05 16,179.02 +0.07%

Nasdaq -11.92 4,058.14 -0.29%

S&P -1.05 1,809.60 -0.06%