BCN-02 European equities advance at open

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ZCZC

BCN-02

MARKETS-EUROPE-OPEN

European equities advance at open

LONDON, July 13, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – European stock markets rose at the open on Monday, spurred higher by investor optimism before the start of corporate results season, dealers said.

In initial deals, London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index of major blue-chip companies rallied 1.3 percent to 6,174.21 points compared with Friday’s closing level.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt’s DAX 30 index won 1.4 percent to 12,815.64 points and the Paris CAC 40 added 1.2 percent to 5,028.96.

“European markets … kick starting the week,” said AvaTrade anayst Naeem Aslam.

“Traders are focused on the third-quarter earnings season and the hope is that it will set more positive tone for the coronavirus stock market rally.”

Asian markets also rose Monday, recovering some of the losses at the end of last week, as investors followed a strong performance on Wall Street fuelled by hopes for a coronavirus vaccine, though a spike in infections around the world capped gains.

BSS/AFP/MMA/1355HRS