London's benchmark FTSE 100 index climbed 0.3 percent to 7,137.88 points, compared with the close on Wednesday.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 gained 0.4 percent to 11,629 points and the Paris CAC 40 won 0.2 percent to 5,147.19.

Europe's main stock markets mostly closed up more than 1.0 percent on Wednesday in line with a global rally.

In the US, the Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives following Tuesday's vote, but President Donald Trump's Republican party widened its majority in the Senate.