European equities extended gains for a fourth consecutive session on Thursday, with both the STOXX 50 and the STOXX 600 rising nearly 0.2% to fresh record highs. The advance reflected a broadly positive market sentiment following the resolution of the US government shutdown. After the House of Representatives approved the funding bill, President Trump signed it into law and reopening the government. Investors also focused on a series of corporate updates. Shares of Merck surged almost 7%, making it one of the top performers on the STOXX 600, after the company reported operating earnings that exceeded market expectations. Deutsche Telekom climbed 1.3% after raising its 2025 guidance once again. ASML Holding gained 1.6%, Hermes added 1.3%, and L’Oreal rose 1.1%. Conversely, Siemens shares fell 4.1% after the company posted stronger revenue but reported a decline in net profit that came in below analysts’ estimates.