01:30 PM EST, 03/07/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European stock markets closed higher Thursday after the European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged.

The FTSE was up 0.17%, Germany's DAX gained 0.71%, France's CAC increased 0.77%, Stoxx Europe 600 climbed 0.99% and the Swiss Market Index rose 0.25%.

The European Central Bank kept its three key rates steady amid easing inflation. The central bank's staff also lowered expectations for headline inflation in the euro area to 2.3% from 2.7% in 2024 and to 2% from 2.1% in 2025.

In corporate news, shares of Rentokil Initial jumped 18% after the British business services group reported higher profit and revenue for 2023.

In Germany, Brenntag slid 5.8% after reporting lower profit and sales for 2023.

French call center Teleperformance led the decliners on the CAC, with the shares down about 23% after reporting 2023 revenue that trailed analysts' estimates.