Europe: Markets advance despite Catalonia vote

[PARIS] European stocks pushed higher at the open on Monday, shrugging off a banned referendum for independence in Catalonia opposed by Spain that was marked by a violent police crackdown.

London's FTSE 100 blue-chip index rose 0.2 per cent in the first few minutes of trading.

In Frankfurt, the DAX 30 climbed 0.3 per cent and in Paris CAC 40 added 0.6 per cent.

"Stocks in Europe look set for a generally positive open on Monday," said market analyst Jasper Lawler at London Capital Group before the start of trading.

"While geopolitical risk looks to be on the rise, hopes of deregulation led by the US is helping a risk-on mood," he said, adding that Spanish stocks would likely buck that trend.

AFP