European stock markets closed higher on Friday as investors digested better-than-expected corporate earnings from the U.S.

Europe's leading Blue-chip index, EURO STOXX 50 rose 37.64 points or 1.15 percent to settle at 3,324.34. UK's benchmark index FTSE 100 rose 45.44 points or 0.62 percent to close at 7,337.81.

Meanwhile, Germany's benchmark index DAX gained 108.14 points or 0.94 percent to end at 11,629.18. French benchmark index CAC 40 rose 58.52 points or 1.2 percent to end at 4,922.49.