Investing.com – European stocks posted sharp gains during early trade on Wednesday, as financials and commodity-linked shares led markets higher; meanwhile U.S. futures indexes pointed to a higher open on Wall Street.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 1.49%; France’s CAC 40 climbed 1.47%; while Germany's DAX jumped 1.42%.
On Tuesday, minutes of the most recent meeting of Federal Reserve policy makers revealed that many believed fresh economic stimulus would be necessary.
Following the news, financial sector shares jumped, with banks leading gains. Stocks in German lender Deutsche Bank soared 2.53%, Banco Santander surged 1.78% and French bank BNP Paribas rose 0.93%.
Elsewhere within the sector, shares in French-based financial service provider AXA climbed 3.45%, Dutch insurers ING Groep added 2.34% and Lloyd’s Banking Group increased 0.98%.
In London, the FTSE 100 surged 1.38% as miners advanced amid rising metal prices. Shares in the world’s largest mining company BHP Billiton surged 2.74%, rivals Rio Tinto jumped 3.36% while Xstrata saw its shares soar 4.14%.
Energy sector stocks gained as crude oil prices surged. Shares in oil giant British Petroleum climbed 1.93%, rivals Royal Dutch Shell rose 1.51% while oil and gas producer Petrofac Limited saw its shares soar 4.53%.
The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was upbeat: Dow Jones Industrial Average futures indicated a rise of 0.65%, S&P 500 futures pointed to an increase of 0.69% and Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a gain of 0.72%.
Later in the day, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was to speak at an engagement in Pittsburgh.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 1.49%; France’s CAC 40 climbed 1.47%; while Germany's DAX jumped 1.42%.
On Tuesday, minutes of the most recent meeting of Federal Reserve policy makers revealed that many believed fresh economic stimulus would be necessary.
Following the news, financial sector shares jumped, with banks leading gains. Stocks in German lender Deutsche Bank soared 2.53%, Banco Santander surged 1.78% and French bank BNP Paribas rose 0.93%.
Elsewhere within the sector, shares in French-based financial service provider AXA climbed 3.45%, Dutch insurers ING Groep added 2.34% and Lloyd’s Banking Group increased 0.98%.
In London, the FTSE 100 surged 1.38% as miners advanced amid rising metal prices. Shares in the world’s largest mining company BHP Billiton surged 2.74%, rivals Rio Tinto jumped 3.36% while Xstrata saw its shares soar 4.14%.
Energy sector stocks gained as crude oil prices surged. Shares in oil giant British Petroleum climbed 1.93%, rivals Royal Dutch Shell rose 1.51% while oil and gas producer Petrofac Limited saw its shares soar 4.53%.
The outlook for U.S. equity markets, meanwhile, was upbeat: Dow Jones Industrial Average futures indicated a rise of 0.65%, S&P 500 futures pointed to an increase of 0.69% and Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a gain of 0.72%.
Later in the day, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was to speak at an engagement in Pittsburgh.