Auto stocks drive European shares higher, as PMI data, ECB eyed

(Reuters) - European shares rose on Thursday lifted by auto stocks after upbeat earnings from Daimler, while investors awaited economic data and a central bank rate meeting in the euro area to gauge the health of the bloc.The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.3% at 0710 GMT, with auto stocks outperforming the broader market with gains of 1.6%.Daimler rose 4% after reporting an 8% increase in third-quarter operating profit. Other carmakers BMW and PSA Group gained between 1% and 2%.On the..