Frankfurt's DAX 30 index gained 0.14 percent to 5,793.10 points and in Paris the CAC 40 won 0.50 percent to 3,273.05.

Asian markets mostly rose on Thursday, extending a recent rally, following another day of gains on Wall Street thanks to better-than-expected US manufacturing data.

Dealers digested the data showing that manufacturing in the US industrial heartland had picked up slightly.

The Institute of Supply Management-Chicago reported that its purchasing managers' index came in at 56.5 in August, above analysts' forecasts. Any number greater than 50 indicates expansion.

The figures sent Wall Street higher, with the Dow up 0.46 percent, the S&P 500 rising 0.49 percent and the Nasdaq gaining 0.13 percent on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, payrolls firm ADP said the US private sector created 91,000 jobs in August, which fell short of expectations, ahead of the release of a crucial government jobs report on Friday.