European stocks rose for a third day as manufacturing gains in China and the euro area boosted investors' confidence that the economic recovery is on track.

Euro-area manufacturing and services activity strengthened in July in a sign that a recovery in the 18-nation region is gathering pace. A combined purchasing managers index for both industries jumped to 54 this month from 52.8 in June, matching a three-year high reached in April, Markit Economics said. Economists in a Bloomberg News survey had predicted an unchanged reading of 52.8. Numbers above 50 indicate expansion.

National benchmark indexes rose in 14 of the 18 western-European markets today. France's CAC 40 climbed 0.8 percent, while Germany's DAX added 0.4 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 gained 0.3 percent.

Nokia jumped 7.3 percent to 6.14 euros, its highest price since May 2011. The Finnish network-equipment maker that sold its mobile-phone business to Microsoft Corp. posted second-quarter earnings excluding some items of 6 euro cents a share. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted 4.5 cents.

Danske Bank A/S advanced 4.6 percent to 162.90 kroner, its highest price since April 2008. Scandinavia's second-largest lender said net income will rise to as much as 13 billion kroner ($2.3 billion) in 2014. That compares with a forecast in May for as much as 12 billion kroner.

Logitech International SA jumped 15 percent to 13.90 Swiss francs for its biggest rally in six months. The world's biggest maker of computer mice raised its full-year 2015 guidance for operating income not based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles to about $170 million from $145 million.

Dassault Systemes SA added 5.2 percent to 49.46 euros. The French developer of three-dimensional design software reported a 15 percent increase in revenue not based on International Financial Reporting Standards.

U.S. stock-index futures advanced as results from Facebook Inc. (FB) to Ford Motor Co. (F) topped analysts' estimates.

Global markets:

Nikkei 15,284.42 -44.14 -0.29%

Hang Seng 24,141.5 +169.63 +0.71%

Shanghai Composite 2,105.06 +26.57 +1.28%

FTSE 6,806.97 +8.82 +0.13%

CAC 4,413.21 +36.89 +0.84%

DAX 9,801.82 +48.26 +0.49%

Crude oil $102.72 (-0.37%)

Gold $1297.70 (-0.54%)

(company / ticker / price / change, % / volume)

Upgrades:

PepsiCo (PEP) upgraded from Hold to Buy at Stifel

Verizon (VZ) upgraded from Mkt Perform to Outperform at FBR Capital, target $57

Downgrades:

Boeing (BA) downgraded from Buy to Neutral at BofA/Merrill

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) downgraded from Buy to Neutral at BofA/Merrill

Other:

Facebook (FB) target raised to $100 from $80 at Topeka Capital Markets

AT&T (T) target lowered to $36 at RBC Capital Mkts

Facebook (FB) target raised to $90 from $79 at Oppenheimer

Facebook (FB) target raised to $90 from $76 at Piper Jaffray

European stocks rose, offsetting early losses, which was associated with the publication of data on business activity and corporate reporting. Futures on American stock indexes and Asian shares have not changed.

Support is provided by data on business activity in Germany and the euro area in July. According to statistics Markit Economics, indicator showing business optimism in the manufacturing sector of Germany's economy, rose to 52.9 from 52.0, while analysts had expected growth to 52.2.

As for the euro area, there is a composite Purchasing Managers' Index, which covers the manufacturing sector and the service sector, rose to 54.0 in July from 52.8 points, the highest level since April. Latest update also proved significantly higher than the average forecasts of experts. However, while business activity in the service sector of the eurozone expanded at the fastest pace since May 2011 - PMI index rose to 54.4 from 52.8 - firms continue to reduce prices, which is fixed for the past 31 consecutive months. We add that the sub-index of prices for products in this sector fell to 48.3, despite high raw material costs. With regard to the sub-index of employment in the services sector, it has not changed in July (50.9).

Meanwhile, data showed that manufacturing index rose to 51.9 from 51.8 mark in June, which was slightly lower than expected (52.0).

Slight pressure have expectations introducing new EU sanctions against Russia. Sanctions that the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU will consider on Thursday evening may include a ban on the purchase of new shares or debentures issued by Russian banks with state participation above 50%, experts say, referring to the proposal of the European Commission.

Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG added 1.3%, registering the fourth consecutive session gain, which was associated with the confirmation of the annual forecast.

Kingfisher shares fell 7.50% after reports that creditors of the company are going to accuse her of frustrating the implementation of monetary obligations. We also learned that the company's sales in the II quarter, especially in June, were weaker than expected.

Quotes Nokia Corp. jumped nearly 7.3%, to a maximum of 3 years. The Finnish company has returned to the break-even level in the II quarter and forecast annual profitability improved network equipment units due to demand in China.

The market value of BASF SE fell by 1.9%. The world's largest chemical manufacturer reported a 12 percent increase in earnings before interest, taxes and one-time items in the second quarter - to 2.05 billion euros, compared with a forecast of 2.09 billion euros.

Paper Danske Bank A / S rose 5.3 percent, reaching the highest price since April 2008, after the second largest lender in Scandinavia increased annual forecast. Net income will rise to 13 billion euros ($ 2.3 billion) in 2014, said in Danske. Recall that on May 1 lender predicted profit of 12 billion kroner.

At the current moment

FTSE 6,805.47 +7.32 +0.11%

CAC 40 4,408.93 +32.61 +0.75%

DAX 9,797.99 +44.43 +0.46%

(index / closing price / change items /% change)

Nikkei 225 15,328.56 -14.72 -0.10%

Hang Seng 23,971.87 +189.76 +0.80%

Shanghai Composite 2,078.49 +3.01 +0.14%

FTSE 100 6,798.15 +2.81 +0.04%

CAC 40 4,376.32 +6.80 +0.16%

Xetra DAX 9,753.56 +19.23 +0.20%

S&P 500 1,987.01 +3.48 +0.18%

NASDAQ 4,473.7 +17.68 +0.40%

Dow Jones 17,086.63 -26.91 -0.16%