By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets mirrored gains
from across the Atlantic on Monday, with all major benchmarks
closing in positive territory.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index gained 0.7% to close at 337.71,
extending gains in the afternoon after the S&P 500 (SPX) and
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) in the U.S. continued their
march into record terrain.
France's CAC 40 index rose 0.8% to 4,222.82, while Germany's DAX
30 index picked up 0.7% to 9,351.87. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index
added 0.7% to 6,611.25.
Oil rally: Oil-related companies posted big gains in Europe, as
both crude (CLZ4) and Brent traded higher for most of the European
session. Shares of SBM Offshore NV picked up 4.2%, Subsea 7 SA
added 3.6%, Total SA (TOT) gained 1.2% and Eni SpA put on 1%.
Catalan independence vote: Around 80% of voters in the Spanish
region of Catalonia voted in favor of independence in an informal
vote held on Sunday. The poll is nonbinding, but Catalans pointed
to the high turnout and hoped it would bolster their case for a
binding referendum on separating from Spain.
Data: Industrial production fell more than expected in Italy in
September, sliding 0.9% on the month. Economists had expected a
fall of 0.2% according to FactSet consensus estimates. Italy's FTSE
MIB , however, shrugged off the downbeat data and ended 0.9% higher
at 19,258.54.
Russian growth: The Bank of Russia cut its growth outlook for
the country, saying it expects the economy to grow by just 0.3%
this year, compared with its previous estimate of 0.4%. In a report
on its monetary policy for 2015-2017, the central bank said it sees
geopolitical issues, and external economic conditions, as posing
serious risks for Russia's economic and monetary policies.
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opportunities in Europe
Will you be in London on Dec. 3? Then you're invited to our
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joined by Mark Hulbert, MarketWatch columnist and editor of the
Hulbert Financial Digest. This event is free, but RSVPs are
required. It will be held Wednesday evening, Dec. 3, in London. For
more information or to RSVP, send an email to
marketwatchevent@wsj.com
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