Investing.com - European stocks were higher on Tuesday, after the release of mixed data from Germany and France and as investors eyed a speech by Federal Reserv Chair Janet Yellen due at the end of the week.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 climbed 0.58%, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.38%, while Germany’s DAX 30 gained 0.43%.
Earlier Tuesday, research group Markit said Germany’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index slipped to 53.6 in August from 53.8 the previous month, confounding expectations for a slip to 53.5.
Germany’s services PMI fell to 53.3 this month from 54.4 in July, compared to expectations for an unchanged reading.
Markit also said that the French manufacturing PMI ticked down to 48.5 in August from 48.6 last month, compared to expectations for a rise to 48.8.
The French services PMI rose to 52.0 this month from 50.5 in July, beating expectations for an unchanged reading.
Investors remained cautious ahead of this Friday’s speech by Fed Chair Janet Yellen. Market participants are hoping Ms. Yellen will give further indications on the timing of future rate hikes.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) climbed 0.69% and 0.90%, while Germany’s Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) and Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) added 0.03% and 0.11%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) and Unicredit (MI:CRDI) gained 0.23% and 2.65% respectively, while Spanish bank BBVA (MC:BBVA) and Banco Santander (MC:SAN) advanced 0.72% and 1.12%.
Elsewhere, Fresenius SE & Co KGAA O.N. (DE:FREG) saw shares climb 0.70% after the healthcare company announced plans to invest nearly $250 million for expanding its Melrose Park, Illinois (USA) site in a move to significantly increase capacity for the production of injectable generic pharmaceuticals.
In London, FTSE 100 gained 0.46%, boosted by Persimmon (LON:PSN), whose shares surged 4.01% before reporting interim results later in the session.
Mining stocks added to gains on the commodity-heavy index. Shares in Glencore (LON:GLEN) jumped 1.46% and Anglo American (LON:AAL) advanced 1.78%, while Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) and BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) rallied 1.78% and 2.81% respectively.
In the financial sector, stocks were also broadly higher. HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) added 0.15% and Lloyds Banking (LON:LLOY) gained 0.43%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) climbed 0.83% and Barclays (LON:BARC) jumped 0.98%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady to higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.08% gain, S&P 500 futures showed a 0.06% uptick, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.06% rise.