The pan-European STOXX 600 rose 1.4%

The supplies were the lowest since October last year when Norway delivered just 7.39 Bcm to the UK and Continental Europe.

Sterling rose 0.2% against the weaker dollar, at $1.2443. As the euro also strengthened versus the dollar, the pound was down around 0.3% versus the euro at 87.335 pence.

The pan-European STOXX 600 held at a near seven-week high with a 0.7% gain,

The U.S. dollar was weaker against the Japanese yen and the euro

The pan-European STOXX 600 rose 1.5%, following gains in Asian markets after the Bank of Japan pledged to buy unlimited amount of bonds to keep borrowing costs low.

“As of today, in the European Union, we’re on course for a 5% to 10% (recession), meaning it’s about 7.5%. But that is today, and if things don’t improve and if we have a second peak (of the outbreak), things could get worse”, Breton said.

EBRD shareholders agreed to a comprehensive series of response and recovery measures that strengthen the Bank’s Solidarity Package , which was first unveiled on 13 March. The Bank now stands ready to provide support worth €21 billion over the 2020-21 period.

the euro weakened after a European Union meeting on Thursday to build a trillion euro emergency fund

The euro was last at $1.07795, with investors awaiting the result of a meeting of European Union leaders on the bloc’s response to the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic.