European shares hit a two-week high on Thursday as investor sentiment improved on signs the impact of the Omicron coronavirus variant may not be as severe as feared. The pan-European STOXX 600 gained 0.4 percent, boosted by travel stocks, tracking a global share rally that was also helped by robust U.S. economic data. The risk of needing to stay in hospital for patients with Omicron may be 40 percent to 45 percent lower than for patients with the Delta variant, according to research by London’s Imperial College. Another study from South Africa found people diagnosed with Omicron in the country between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30 were 80 percent less likely to be admitted to hospital than those diagnosed with another variant in the same period. “The Omicron wave won’t derail the economic recovery that’s well underway, it might delay it, but 2022 will have an attractive, healthy economic environment,” …