London - European shares rose on Wednesday, led by mining stocks boosted by a manufacturing rebound in China and the media sector after Vivendi raised its annual profit targets.
However, gains could be limited as investors await the US ADP National Employment statistics, a precursor to the non-farm payrolls data on Friday and US construction spending and ISM manufacturing PMI figures.
Miners were buoyed by optimism about China's manufacturing base after positive purchasing manager data. Anglo American, Antofagasta, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata gained 0.7% to 2%.
By 08:47 am, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares was 0.4% higher at 1 029.99 points. "The data out of China which was better-than-expected and the Australian data was good," said Philip Gillett, trader at Spreadex.
China's official purchasing managers' index rose to 51.7 in August from a 17-month low of 51.2 in July, while data showing Australia's economy grew a stronger-than-expected 1.2% in the second quarter also provided some comfort.
"But, markets have been data driven of late and the general consensus is the US is starting to splutter. If there are signs in the US ADP employment and US ISM data that the US is spluttering, the market could turn."
Elsewhere, Europe's largest telecom and entertainment group Vivendi gained 4.1%. The company raised its annual profit targets when posting forecast-beating first-half results boosted by its newly acquired Brazilian telecoms unit and video games.
TUI travel gains
TUI Travel rose 3.2% after the Financial Times Deutschland reported German group TUI AG, Europe's biggest tour operator, is considering buying the shares it does not already own in the British firm.
"TUI AG's desire for TUI Travel is clearly well known. The key to unlocking that is Hapag-Lloyd," said KBC Peel Hunt analyst Nick Batram, adding that it would be expected to offer "north of 250 pence" to gain the support of independent TUI Travel shareholders.
Metro, the world's number four retailer, rose 3.4% after Bernstein Research upgraded the stock to "outperform" from "market-perform".
Siemens fell 1.6% after Deutsche Bank downgraded the German industrial conglomerate to "hold" from "buy".
The Euro STOXX 50 was 0.4% higher at 2 632.44, holding above a key support level, the 23.6% retracement of a fall from an April high to a May low.
Across Europe, the FTSE 100 index was 0.9% higher, Germany's DAX was up 0.1% and France's CAC 40 rose 0.6%.