European shares edge higher at open, defensive healthcare stocks up



European shares opened higher on Friday as gains were led by defensive healthcare stocks at the end of a week dominated by major central bank policy decisions.

The continent-wide European STOXX 600 index rose 0.2% at 0717 GMT, with the healthcare index up 0.5%.

The STOXX 600 had ended Thursday lower after the European Central Bank (ECB) raised borrowing costs and signalled more policy tightening in its fight against sticky inflation, a day after the U.S. Federal Reserve's hawkish pause.

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