German stocks rose on Thursday, with the benchmark DAX index up 118.28 points, or 0.91 percent, to close at 13,114.61 points.

Pharmaceutical company Merck won the most among the blue chips, with its shares up 5.64 percent. Renal dialysis equipment supplier Fresenius Medical and European health care company Fresenius SE rose by 3.23 percent and 2.04 percent respectively.

Marketplace organizer for the trading of shares and securities Deutsche Boerse group lost the most among the blue chips, by falling 1.43 percent. Commerzbank was down by 1.06 percent. Housing association Vonovia was down by 0.41 percent.

Automotive manufacturer BMW was the most-traded share with a turnover of 284.58 million euros (335.94 million U.S. dollars).