Frankfurt - European stocks staged a cautious recovery Thursday, helped along by an element of calm returning to share markets in Asia and the US after this week's big trading losses.

Europe's benchmark Eurostoxx index climbed by 1.4 per cent to 2,392 in early trading Thursday as bourses opened across Europe.

The signs of a brittle calm returning to European stock trading came after days of panic share-selling around the world on the back of fears about the economic fallout from the global credit crunch. (dpa)