LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters): European equities advanced on Thursday, with a key index climbing to a two-week high after the US Federal Reserve renewed a pledge to keep ultra-low interest rates for a considerable time.
However UK shares slightly underperformed as the voting got underway in Scotland's referendum on independence, keeping investors on edge ahead of the result on Friday.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.8 per cent at 1,396.07 points by 1034 GMT after rising up to 1,397.01, its highest since September 5.
Britain's FTSE was up 0.4 per cent, Germany's DAX index gained 1 per cent and France's CAC 40 rose 0.6 per cent.
The market got support from a statement from the Fed, which reaffirmed late On Wednesday its commitment to keep interest rates near zero for a "considerable time". However, it also indicated it could raise borrowing costs faster than expected when it starts moving.
"Investors are feeling a bit relieved that the Fed statement didn't include any big negative surprise and kept the line (for a 'considerable time') that everybody was focusing on," Robert Parkes, equity strategist, HSBC Securities, said.
"The statement gave mixed signals, although equity investors are interpreting it on the dovish side."
Despite Thursday's gains, equity investors remained jittery ahead of the result of the Scottish independence poll.
Volumes for the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 and London's FTSE 100 indexes were only 40 per cent and 34 per cent of their 90-day daily averages respectively after nearly a half-day's trading.
A YouGov poll for the Times and Sun newspapers showed Scottish support for staying in the United Kingdom at 52-per cent with Scottish support for the "Yes" campaign backing independence at 48 per cent.
