Europe: Stocks rise at open

[LONDON] Europe's main stock markets rose at the start of trading on Monday following a robust performance by Chinese equities.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 0.43 per cent to 6,747.07 points compared with Friday's close.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 climbed 0.48 per cent to 11,545.63 points and the CAC 40 in Paris won 0.49 per cent to stand at 5,179.84.

Shanghai's main index closed up almost five per cent on speculation of a merger between two major state-owned shipping enterprises, offsetting weak Chinese economic figures released over the weekend, dealers said.

Europe's main stock markets had edged down on Friday as investors digested disappointing data out of the eurozone, a mixed US jobs report and the likelihood of an imminent US interest rate rise.

AFP