European equities opened higher today, aided by prospects of a global economic recovery after the Fed reaffirmed its commitment to an ultra-easy monetary policy.

The DAX in Germany traded 0.2% higher, the CAC 40 in France climbed 0.5% and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 advanced 0.3%, climbing to a 52-week high.

EUR/USD is inching higher, close to 1.19 after the Fed's minutes showed the bank is set to continue supporting the economy.

Worries about AstraZeneca's vaccines weighed on the euro. Focus on US jobless claims later in the day.

Europe is still struggling with a third wave of Covid-19 cases, with authorities in several Spanish regions tightening mobility restrictions yesterday to rein in a surging virus rate.