European Shares Rise in Cautious Trading

European shares rose on Thursday, supported by oil and chemical companies, while doubts about the outlook for monetary policy and signs of slowing global growth limited gains.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.1% after Asian shares fell on growing concerns about the Chinese economy following a batch of weak data.

Investors have refrained from making big bets ahead of Friday’s US jobs data, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s thinking about tightening monetary policy.

As for individual stocks, Sweden’s Orvan Biovitrum rose 24.2% after American venture capital firm Advent International and Urua Investments offered to buy the drugmaker in an agreement worth about 69.4 billion Swedish crowns ($8 billion).

Shares of BHP Mining Group fell 5% after trading without the right to distribute a dividend, affecting the British FTSE 100 index.

British engineering company Melrose Industries rose 4.6% after reporting a first-half profit.