European shares advanced on Wednesday pushing the benchmark index Europe 600 towards its highest level since May 2008 before a report showed that retail sales in the 17-nation bloc declined and as German factory orders expanded. Stoxx Europe 50 Index futures expiring in December gained 0.4% to 3,040 as of 7:21 a.m. London time, while the Stoxx 600 traded 0.2% below this year's high reached on November 4.