(For a live blog on European stocks, type LIVE/ in an Eikon
news window)
Jan 9 (Reuters) - European shares touched a record high
Thursday, tracking broader gains in global equities, after the
United States and Iran backed away from further military
escalation in the Middle East.
Also lending support was confirmation from China on the
signing of a "phase 1" trade deal with the United States next
week, leading to an easing in trade related concerns.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.6% to a
record high of 420.98, while stocks in Germany .GDAXI , the
bloc's biggest economy, gained 1.1%.
German industrial production rose more than expected in
November, data showed. However, a separate reading showed that
the country's exports sank well below expectations, indicating
that demand for goods from the industrial powerhouse still
remained languid. Carmaker BMW BMWG.DE rose 0.8%, with traders saying
brokerage Exane had upgraded the stock. Technology .SX8P was the best performing regional subindex
and gains were led by a 2% rise in chipmaker Infineon
Technologies IFXGn.DE .