Major European indexes were in positive territory in early trading, buoyed by signs that the latest round of US-Iran negotiations could be nearing a breakthrough.
The prospect of a deal has been enough to steady nerves, even if traders remain wary of false dawns in a conflict that has rattled commodity and bond markets since it began in late February.
The DAX rose 0.64%, with Deutsche Post AG leading gains at 3.61%. The CAC 40 added 0.65%, lifted by STMicroelectronics, which surged 3.43%. London's FTSE 100 gained 0.38%, with 3i Group up 2.31%, while the Euro Stoxx 50 climbed 0.88%.
The euro and pound sterling were broadly flat against the dollar, trading at $1.161 and $1.342 respectively at around 9 am CET.
Germany offered some additional cheer, with the eurozone's largest economy posting expected first-quarter growth of 0.4% year on year, and consumer confidence for June showing improvement — a tentatively encouraging signal for an economy that has had few of them lately.
