Investing.com - European stocks were higher in light trade on Tuesday, as they regained ground after downbeat Chinese trade data over the weekend weighed broadly on global equities on Monday.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.22%, France’s CAC 40 eased up 0.11%, while Germany’s DAX 30 edged 0.18% higher.
Equities were hit on Monday, after data released over the weekend showed that Chinese exports fell 18.1% on a year-over-year basis in February, confounding expectations for a 6.8% increase, following a rise of 10.6% in January.
The data added to fears over a slowdown in the world’s second largest economy.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale rose 0.32% and 0.26%, although Germany's Deutsche Bank slipped 0.22%.
Among peripheral lenders, Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit gained 0.48% and 0.50% respectively, while Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA added 0.12% and 0.51%.
Elsewhere, Geberit AG rallied 1.94% after naming a new chief executive officer and posting an increase in profitability.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 added 0.08%, supported by gains in the mining sector.
Shares in Glencore Xstrata advanced 0.92% and BHP Billiton climbed 0.71%, while rivals Rio Tinto and Fresnillo surged 1.74% and 1.70% respectively.
However, African Barrick Gold Plc dove 13.31% after Barrick Gold Corp. began selling a 10% stake in its African unit.
Close Brothers Group jumped 2.18% after raising its dividend by more than projected.
In the financial sector, stocks were mixed. The Royal Bank of Scotland slipped 0.25% and Barclays declined 0.66%, while HSBC Holdings and Lloyds Banking rose 0.22% and 0.44%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.02% dip, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.07% fall, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.02% loss.