IHT: Europe: Markets take heart from profit reports

For the full report go to: International Herald Tribune

European stocks climbed on Wednesday after earnings at Vivendi Universal, Telefónica and Wolters Kluwer beat estimates and a report showed the region's manufacturing strengthened. "Earnings have been coming in better than expected and that is improving sentiment," said René Clerix at Dexia Asset Management in Brussels. "The European economy is also taking off, and that is good news for companies."