German stocks moved higher on Thursday as hopes for easing in the US and China spurred European equities. Moreover, upbeat Germany's manufacturing data supported the country's shares. German flash PMI rose to 45.1 in August from 43.0 in July. The German DAX Index gained 0.22% to trade at 7,035.09. Five out of nine industries included in the index went up. Financials and basic materials were the top-performers, advancing by 0.79% and 0.38%. Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank climbed 1.66% and 1.87% while K+S and ThyssenKrupp soared 0.15% and 1.64%. On the downside were utility and health care firms. E.ON and RWE slumped 0.50% and 1.27% whereas Fresenius Medical Care and Fresenius SE & Co dropped by 0.23% and 1.58%.