Europe: Shares inch up early

[PARIS] European shares inched up in early trading on Monday, adding to last week's strong gains, helped by mounting expectations the European Central Bank is about to embark into a bond buying programme to support the euro zone economy.

At 0808 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.1 per cent at 1,408.40 points, after gaining one per cent on Friday.

Shares in Julius Baer featured among the top gainers, up 2.7 per cent, after the Zurich-based private bank said it did not suffer any losses soon after the Swiss National Bank's decision to abandon a three-year-old cap on the franc.

REUTERS