Investing.com – European stocks ended higher on Wednesday, as financials and commodity-linked stocks led gains.
At the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 was up 0.80%; France’s CAC 40 increased 0.85%; while Germany's DAX rose 0.85%.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that the euro zone’s economy grew in line with expectations in the second quarter of 2010, while a separate report said that German factory orders rose more-than-expected in August.
Financial sector stocks outperformed with banks ending higher, as French lender Societe Generale climbed 1.94%, Deutsche Bank gained 1.57% and BNP Paribas added 0.74%.
In London, the FTSE 100 rose 0.84%, with commodity-linked stocks leading gains amid rising metal prices. Shares in the world’s largest miner BHP Billiton soared 3.59%, Rio Tinto climbed 3.27% and Anglo American stocks jumped 4.62%.
Elsewhere, shares in EasyJet Plc. soared 11.53%, after the airliner reported increased passenger traffic in September. Rivals British Airways climbed 4.52% a day after it also reported passenger traffic increased more-than-expected in September.
Across the Atlantic, U.S. markets were mixed: the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.23%, the S&P 500 index added 0.12%, while the Nasdaq Composite index fell 0.59%.
Earlier Wednesday, industry data showed that non-farm private employment declined unexpectedly in September.
At the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 was up 0.80%; France’s CAC 40 increased 0.85%; while Germany's DAX rose 0.85%.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that the euro zone’s economy grew in line with expectations in the second quarter of 2010, while a separate report said that German factory orders rose more-than-expected in August.
Financial sector stocks outperformed with banks ending higher, as French lender Societe Generale climbed 1.94%, Deutsche Bank gained 1.57% and BNP Paribas added 0.74%.
In London, the FTSE 100 rose 0.84%, with commodity-linked stocks leading gains amid rising metal prices. Shares in the world’s largest miner BHP Billiton soared 3.59%, Rio Tinto climbed 3.27% and Anglo American stocks jumped 4.62%.
Elsewhere, shares in EasyJet Plc. soared 11.53%, after the airliner reported increased passenger traffic in September. Rivals British Airways climbed 4.52% a day after it also reported passenger traffic increased more-than-expected in September.
Across the Atlantic, U.S. markets were mixed: the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.23%, the S&P 500 index added 0.12%, while the Nasdaq Composite index fell 0.59%.
Earlier Wednesday, industry data showed that non-farm private employment declined unexpectedly in September.