But falling government bond yields globally meant attention remained focused on the trade dispute between China and the United States, after Washington hit Chinese telecoms company Huawei with sanctions.
"Manufacturing growth in Europe continues to be a source of concern as seen by recent PMI data and unless we see a firm resolution on the trade war front, the uncertain outlook will continue to be a headwind for markets," said Mike Bell, a global markets strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management in London.
European shares rose half a percent, up nearly a percent from the day's lows.
German stocks also surged. US stock futures were up 0.4 percent, signalling a stronger start on Wall Street.
The surge in European stocks and gains by Chinese and Hong Kong stocks pushed an index of global stocks into positive territory.
German government bond yields were near their lowest in almost three years. Dutch bond yields were about to reach negative territory, a level not seen since October 2016.
German yields are now four basis points below their Japanese counterparts, the biggest gap since late 2016.
Late on Wednesday, the US Commerce Department said it was adding China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and 70 affiliates to its "Entity List" - a move that bans Huawei from acquiring components and technology from US companies without government approval.
The move surprised global markets, which had steadied the day before after Reuters reported that US President Donald Trump was planning to delay tariffs on auto imports.
RATE CUT BETS GROW As trade tensions re-emerged, weak US data ratcheted up market expectations of the Federal Reserve would cut US interest rates this year.
Retail sales unexpectedly fell in April and industrial production dropped 0.5pc, the third decline this year.
Yields on 10-year US Treasury bonds fell to 2.3pc , near a 15-month low of 2.340pc on March 28.
Fed funds rate futures are fully pricing in a rate cut by the end of this year and more than a 50pc chance of a move by September.
"That is a sea change from a year ago, when the consensus was three to four rate hikes a year," said Akira Takei, bond fund manager at Asset Management One.
Falling US yields have eroded support for the dollar, which was flat against a basket of other currencies.
Oil prices gained on concern mounting tensions in the Middle East would hitting global supplies.
Brent crude rose 0.1pc to $72 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude reached $62.73, half a percent higher.
Gold slipped 0.2pc to $1,293.9 per ounce.