Investing.com - European stocks were higher on Tuesday, after upbeat German manufacturing and services data and as investors eyed upcoming reports for the entire euro zone.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 edged up 0.17%, France’s CAC 40 added 0.24%, while Germany’s DAX 30 rose 0.26%.
Markit research group said Germany's manufacturing purchasing manager's index rose to 52.4 this month from 51.1 in February, compared to expectations for a rise to 51.5.
Germany's services PMI rose to 55.3 in March from 54.7 the previous month. Analysts had expected the index to increase to 55.0 in March.
Markit also reported that France's manufacturing PMI fell to 48.2 this month from 47.6 in February, compared to expectations for a rise to 48.5.
France's services PMI fell to 52.8 in March from a reading of 53.4 the previous month. Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PARIS:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PARIS:SOGN) gained 0.09% and 0.49%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank (XETRA:DBKGn) and Commerzbank (XETRA:CBKG) advanced 0.46% and 0.44%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy's Unicredit (MILAN:CRDI) rose 0.42%, while Spanish banks Banco Santander (MADRID:SAN) and BBVA (MADRID:BBVA) added 0.12% and 0.30% respectively.
Elsewhere, Carrefour (PARIS:CARR) saw shares tumble 1.35% after the French retailer announced on Monday that it was selling 12.7 million of its treasury shares representing about 1.73% of its share capital in a private placement.
In London, FTSE 100 rose 0.21%, ahead of a report on U.K. consumer prices.
Financial stocks were mixed, as Lloyds Banking (LONDON:LLOY) dipped 0.01% and HSBC Holdings (LONDON:HSBA) dropped 0.45%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland (LONDON:RBS) slid 0.37%. Shares in Barclays (LONDON:BARC) were up 0.53%.
In the mining sector, stocks were also mixed. Shares in Rio Tinto (LONDON:RIO) fell 0.20% and Glencore Xstrata (LONDON:GLEN) declined 0.69%, while Bhp Billiton (LONDON:BLT) and Fresnillo (LONDON:FRES) gained 0.47% and 1.01% respectively.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.19% increase, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.14% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.15% rise.
Later in the day, the euro zone was to produce survey data on private sector activity. The U.S. was to release reports on consumer inflation and new home sales.