European markets close higher as momentum returns; Delivery Hero jumps 15%, Volvo Cars up 7%

This was CNBC's live blog covering European markets.

European markets closed slightly higher Thursday as momentum rebuilds following a shaky start to the new trading quarter.

The Stoxx 600 index closed 0.16% higher, with sectors in mixed territory. Mining stocks gained 1.7%, while chemicals slipped 0.6%.

Volvo Cars shares rose by nearly 7% after the automaker posted record single-month sales for March.

Thursday is light on the earnings front, while the release of notes from the European Central Bank's last monetary policy meeting is expected to shine some light on the path for interest rate cuts. Mining giant Rio Tinto also holds its annual general meeting.

In Asia-Pacific, markets rebounded following a selloff in the previous session. Meanwhile, U.S. stocks rebounded from three straight losses as investors digested comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

Europe's Stoxx 600 closed 0.16% higher on Thursday, a second positive session for the regional index which put the 2024 rally back on course.

The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index rose 0.5% while Germany's DAX was up 0.2% and France's CAC 40 was near the flatline.

— Jenni Reid

Shares of Germany's Delivery Hero jumped 14% in late afternoon trade after Bloomberg reported that activist investment firm Sachem Head Capital Management had taken a 3.6% stake in the company and may be seeking a board seat.

After strong pandemic growth, Delivery Hero has struggled to shake off concerns over its liquidity and growth potential.

At the other end of the Stoxx 600 index, British grocery delivery firm Ocado fell 5%. The company announced Thursday that Chairman Rick Haythornthwaite will step down next year.

— Jenni Reid

The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 282 points, or about