(Sharecast News) - European shares returned to action from the Easter break and were higher in early deals at the open.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.3% at 514.19, with all major regional bourses in the green. Investors will be eyeing eurozone manufacturing and German inflation data.
In the UK, house prices rose by 1.6% in March on an annualised basis, according to a survey by the Nationwide building society, but fell 0.2% month-on-month after a 0.7% increase in February. Analysts had been looking for a 0.3% rise.
UBS shares were up after the bank unveiled a new share buyback of up to $2bn.
AstraZeneca gained after the approval of Voydeya as an add-on therapy for the treatment of a rare condition affecting red blood cells.
Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com