Investing.com – European stocks advanced on Monday, amid signs the U.S. economic recovery was strengthening and after China held off from raising interest rates, while U.S. futures indexes pointed to a higher open on Wall Street.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.39%; France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.55%; while Germany's DAX added 0.24%.
On Friday, official data showed that the U.S. trade deficit narrowed more-than-expected in October, while consumer sentiment rose to the highest level in six months in December.
Shares in Europe’s largest automaker Volkswagen rallied 2.09%, rivals BMW saw shares rise 1.04%, while French automaker Renault saw shares jump 2.25%.
Meanwhile, shares in the world’s largest steel producer ArcelorMittal surged 2.51% after it confirmed plans to list its stainless steel unit, Inox on the CAC 40 index as of the first quarter of 2011.
Elsewhere, shares in consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser Group jumped 1.85% after it agreed to acquire Indian over-the-counter pharmaceutical firm Paras Pharmaceuticals for approximately GBP 460 million.
In London, the commodity-heavy FTSE 100 jumped 0.63% as miners led gains after China refrained from raising its benchmark interest rate. On Saturday, government data showed that China's consumer price index rose 5.1% in November, the fastest rise since July 2008.
Shares in the world’s largest mining group BHP Billiton climbed 1.01%, copper producer Xstrata saw shares jump 1.80%, while shares in silver producer Fresnillo added 2.19%.
Meanwhile, shares of U.K. energy group Wellstream Holdings soared 5.02% after General Electric said it was close to acquiring the oilfield services company for approximately GBP 800 million.
The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was upbeat. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a gain of 0.04%, S&P 500 futures indicated a rise of 0.03% and Nasdaq 100 futures pointed to an increase of 0.04%.
Later in the day, European Central Bank president, Jean-Claude Trichet was to speak in Frankfurt.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.39%; France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.55%; while Germany's DAX added 0.24%.
On Friday, official data showed that the U.S. trade deficit narrowed more-than-expected in October, while consumer sentiment rose to the highest level in six months in December.
Shares in Europe’s largest automaker Volkswagen rallied 2.09%, rivals BMW saw shares rise 1.04%, while French automaker Renault saw shares jump 2.25%.
Meanwhile, shares in the world’s largest steel producer ArcelorMittal surged 2.51% after it confirmed plans to list its stainless steel unit, Inox on the CAC 40 index as of the first quarter of 2011.
Elsewhere, shares in consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser Group jumped 1.85% after it agreed to acquire Indian over-the-counter pharmaceutical firm Paras Pharmaceuticals for approximately GBP 460 million.
In London, the commodity-heavy FTSE 100 jumped 0.63% as miners led gains after China refrained from raising its benchmark interest rate. On Saturday, government data showed that China's consumer price index rose 5.1% in November, the fastest rise since July 2008.
Shares in the world’s largest mining group BHP Billiton climbed 1.01%, copper producer Xstrata saw shares jump 1.80%, while shares in silver producer Fresnillo added 2.19%.
Meanwhile, shares of U.K. energy group Wellstream Holdings soared 5.02% after General Electric said it was close to acquiring the oilfield services company for approximately GBP 800 million.
The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was upbeat. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a gain of 0.04%, S&P 500 futures indicated a rise of 0.03% and Nasdaq 100 futures pointed to an increase of 0.04%.
Later in the day, European Central Bank president, Jean-Claude Trichet was to speak in Frankfurt.