European shares edge higher, AstraZeneca gains after earnings

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The pan-European STOXX 600 index was 0.1% higher in early trading, with most of its sectors trading in the positive territory.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) rose 1.3% after the COVID-19 vaccine developer beat quarterly product sales estimates and forecast 2021 revenue growth.

European healthcare stocks were up 0.2%.

Danone rose 2.8% after investment company Artisan Partners (NYSE:APAM) demanded corporate governance and strategic changes, including separation of the French food group’s chairman and chief executive officer roles.

Germany’s Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) fell 2.9% as the lender said its loss deepened in the fourth quarter.