European markets advanced on Thursday ahead of a Spanish bond auction, as well as Ben Bernanke's, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman, testimony to the Congress. The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.2 per cent to 240.40. Swedish Nordea Bank AB and Swedbank AB gained 4.3 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively. The CAC 40 index climbed 0.8 per cent to 3,082.91.