TOKYO: European stocks rose, pushing towards their biggest quarterly rally since 2009, amid optimism central banks will continue to support global growth.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.9 percent to 399.23 at 10:08 a.m. in London. Health-care companies boosted the equity benchmark on Friday, trimming its worst weekly loss of the year. The volume of Stoxx 600 shares changing hands today was 26 percent lower than the 30-day average, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The gauge is up 17 percent this year.
U.S. stocks rose late Friday as Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said she expects the central bank to raise interest rates this year, and that subsequent increases will be gradual without following a predictable path. China’s central bank governor said Sunday that the government can do more to support growth in the world’s second-largest economy.