Business Spectator – European shares jumped for a fifth straight session on Monday, led higher by financials, as investor sentiment improved following further assurances over the health of the US banking sector.
At 0948 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares was up 2.3 per cent at 718.41 points, extending the previous session’s gain of 0.8 per cent. But it is still down 14 per cent this year after plunging 45 per cent in 2008.
The broader STOXX 600 was up 2.1 per cent at 172.15 points, with banks and insurers topping the gainers list.
