European Markets Close Higher As Investors React To ECB Policy, U.S. Stimulus News BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European markets ended mostly higher on Thursday on continued optimism about global economic recovery and the European Central Bank's pledge to speed up its bond buying program. News about the U.S. House of Representatives passing the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package aided sentiment. The U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill in the coming days. Investors were also tracking quarterly earnings announcements and the trend in bond markets for direction. The European Central Bank said Thursday that it will step up its emergency bond purchases over the next quarter based on market conditions and left its key interest rates unchanged.