Gaza city: European stock indexes opened higher on Wednesday, driven by gains in automobile and chemical shares. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.2 percent to 629.44 points, remaining about 1 percent below the record high it reached in February. Germany's DAX index advanced 0.6 percent to 25,350.51, while France's CAC 40 index climbed 0.5 percent to 8,214.86.

According to Qatar News Agency, automakers led the gains among European sectors, with the automotive index rising about 1.6 percent in early trading. The chemicals sector index also increased by more than 1 percent, contributing to the upward momentum in European stock markets. These early gains suggest a positive start to the trading day for investors, with significant contributions from key industrial sectors.