Investing.com - European stock markets closed higher Friday, as Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti reported that most European Union leaders support joing –bonds for the euro zone, in addition to positive U.S. consumer sentiment numbers increasing worldwide bullish equity sentiment.
At the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 added 0.25%, France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.32%, while Germany’s DAX 30 advanced 0.38%.
Casting a bearish aura over the positive day, Catalan President Artur Mas repeated his call for Spanish central government to help regions access funding at briefing with reporters today in Madrid.
In addition, shares were pressured after a Greek opinion poll showed an anti- bailout party gaining support before June 17 elections.
Igniting the bullish sentiment, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti stated, during a television interview, “Europe can have euro bonds soon. Germany has an interest in ensuring no country leaves the euro, while Greece will probably remain in the 17 – nation currency region even as anything can happen.”
The EU summit ended yesterday with a plea to Greek voters to elect a pro - austerity government on June 17 in order to keep the troubled island nation in the euro zone.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel left open a potential compromise on debt sharing via joint nation bonds in the euro area lifting hopes of cooperation.
Euro area finance ministers do not plan on meeting again until after the Greek elections next month, which potentially will determine Greek’s future in the euro zone. The Greek June election was called after a May 6 vote left no party able to form a government, as voter sent the anti-bailout Syriza party to second place.
Nexans SA advanced 4.6% after being recommended as a buy by Kepler Capital Markets.
Alcatel Lucent added 4.5% after it was reported the company seeks to ramp up its core router sales to at least USD1 billion.
Mining companies traded lower with Vendanta Resources slipping 3.3% on the session.
U.S. shares traded mixed midsession with the Dow off 0.19%, the S&P 500 higher by 0.06 and the tech heavy Nasdaq slipping 0.02%.