Europe: Stocks up at start of week

[LONDON] European stocks started the week on the front foot, largely ignoring a mixed picture across Asia and slightly weaker US futures as a brutal month nears its end. Treasuries extended a gain from last week, with some traders reining in expectations for tighter Fed policy.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose for the second time in three days, led by banks after earnings for HSBC Holdings Plc beat expectations. US futures dropped after the S&P 500 Index finished Friday just short of a 10 per cent decline from its record September high and on pace for the worst month since 2009.

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