Summary
There is hope those gains can be built upon after the ECB's policy board gathers, with market-watchers asking how, rather than if, they will loosen the monetary belt.
In China, official figures showed inflation hit 2.3 percent in February, the highest in almost two years and beating expectations of 1.8 percent.
On oil markets, both main contracts held on to Wednesday's healthy gains after a U.S. report showed a slower rise in stockpiles while gasoline inventories eased.
However, after sitting near 13-year lows below $30 a barrel just weeks ago, WTI remains deep in the high $30 region while Brent is hovering around $41 .
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