European shares edge higher, focus on EU recovery plan

This post was originally published on this site

https://i-invdn-com.akamaized.net/trkd-images/LYNXMPEG4Q0FU_L.jpg

The pan-European STOXX 600 (STOXX) rose 0.4% in early deals, led by banks (SX7P), travel and leisure stocks (SXTP), and automakers (SXAP).

The eurozone stock index (STOXXE) also gained 0.4%, with the European Commission set to unveil a plan to help the EU economy recover from its coronavirus slump with a mix of grants, loans and guarantees exceeding 1 trillion euros.

Asian markets, however, struggled after fresh protests in Hong Kong over new national security laws proposed by Beijing, while U.S. President Donald Trump warned of a strong response to China’s move by the end of this week.

Finnish tyre maker Nokian Tyres Plc (HE:TYRES) jumped 17% to the top of the STOXX 600 after it named a new chief executive officer.

Chipmaker Infineon (OTC:IFNNY) Technologies AG (DE:IFXGn) dipped 2% after it raised about 1.06 billion euros ($1.16 billion) by issuing new shares to partially finance its $10 billion acquisition of U.S.-based Cypress Semiconductor.