European shares closed higher on Thursday on good corporate data and due to lowering oil prices.

The Dax Index rose 35.82 points, or 0.83% to 4360.42, the FTSE 100 Index was up 13.30 points, or 0.27% to 4962.70, the CAC 40 Index added 12.83 points, or 0.31% to 4085.98.

In U.K.: Barclays Bank rose 0.55% to 547.50. Diageo declined 0.56% to 805.50. HSBC slid 0.23 and closed  at 862.50. Vodafone added 0.90% to 140.75. Unilever dropped 0.37% to 536.50. Shell added 0.21% and closed at 473.0.

In Germany: Bayer rocketed 1.32% to 26.92. Infineon was down 0.41% to 7.26. SAP was up 0.41% to 131.69. Allianz rose 1.09% to 94.35. Deutsche Bank slipped 1.35% to 61.48. BMW advanced 0.35% to 34.41. DaimlerChrysler added 1.09% to 32.45.

In France: Alcatel was up 0.55% to 9.13. BNP Paribas slipped 0.72% to 55.10. EADS was down 0.87% and closed at 22.70. France Telecom rose 0.30% to 23.54. Danone added 0.13% to 74.65. Renault advanced 1.16% to 69.50.