European stocks rose today, supported mainly by stocks of major pharmaceutical companies, and inflation slowed for the second month in a row in Germany, which is the largest economy in the European Union countries. The European Stoxx 600 index rose by 1.2 percent, to close at its highest level in about three weeks, while the shares of some valley companies rose by about 2.8 percent, and the European health care index rose by about 1.8 percent. German inflation data showed a decline last month due to the drop in energy prices and the government's one-time payment of household energy bills, which was reflected in the inflation index during the month of December.
