European stock markets opened the week with gains as optimism grew following new employment data from Switzerland. The Swiss Federal Statistics Office reported a 1.2% rise in employment, providing an encouraging signal for investors. Meanwhile, attention turned to upcoming economic reports, including Germany’s assessment of current business conditions and expectations, along with inflation data from Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and the broader Eurozone, expected throughout the week.
At the start of trading, Germany’s DAX index advanced 0.83%, driven by a 4.76% rise in Vonovia SE’s shares. The FTSE 100 in London climbed 0.45%, with JD Sports Fashion increasing by 2.85%. France’s CAC 40 showed a strong 1.03% gain, boosted by a 3.24% surge in Kering SA. Additionally, the Euro Stoxx 50 index rose 0.91% at the open, supported by Kering SA’s 3.02% growth.
In currency trading, the euro gained 0.34% against the dollar, reaching $1.04505 by 8:58 am CET. The pound also strengthened, trading 0.35% higher at $1.25737 just a minute later.
The strong start across major European indices reflects growing optimism as investors await further economic data to shape their outlook on market performance this week.
JPMorgan European Discovery Trust plc (LON:JEDT) is an investment trust company. The Investment Trust JEDT objective is to achieve capital growth from a portfolio of quoted smaller companies in Europe, excluding the United Kingdom.