2017.08.1604:14:00UTC+00European Shares Boosted by Basic Resources, Eurozone GDP Eyed

Miners and oil stocks lifted Europe's major share index on Wednesday, as higher metals prices provided support while investors await eurozone GDP figures which is expected to confirm that the bloc's economic expansion was on course.

The pan-European STOXX 600 was 0.5 percent higher, its third consecutive day of gains, following a sharp sell-off the previous week. Eurozone stocks and blue chips rose 0.6 percent.

Basic resources stocks were the best performers, higher by 1.1 percent after London zinc touched a record peak, boosted by Chinese construction spending.

British builder Balfour Beatty was among leading gainers, climbing 4.6 percent after robust first-half profits was bolstered by a rebound in British construction.

Admiral was the worst-performing. The British car insurer fell 6.5 percent after it posted profits that were higher by only one percent in the first half, pulled down by injury claims costs as a result of a government change to personal injury rates.