European stock markets settled higher on Thursday after the Federal Reserve signalled no pick-up in the pace of monetary tightening and centre-right Prime Minister Mark Rutte won elections in the Netherlands.

Europe's leading Blue-chip index, EURO STOXX 50 went up 30.64 points or 0.9 percent to settle at 3,439.96. UK's benchmark index FTSE 100 gained 47.31 points or 0.64 percent to close at 7,415.95.

Meanwhile, Germany's benchmark index DAX went up 73.31 points or 0.61 percent to end at 12,083.18. French benchmark index CAC 40 went up 27.90 points or 0.56 percent to end at 5,013.38.