The pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.1 percent at the open to reach a one-month high, with most regional bourses and industrial sectors in positive territory.

Pharmaceutical group Orion Oyj fell 6.5 percent after its rating was cut to "underperform" by Jefferies which argued the current dividend yield was not enough to support the share price.

In the telecoms sector, talk of possible consolidations in France lifted shares in Altice Europe about 5 percent, and Iliad 1.2 percent.

France's incumbent operator Orange, which would benefit from less competition on its home turf, led the European telecom index with a 1.2 percent rise.

French utilities took a hit after Societe Generale downgraded ratings on Suez and Veolia Environnement  citing doubts about the global growth outlook.

The stocks were down 2.7 percent and 1.7 percent respectively.