European stocks rose Friday, headed for a weekly gain after a bumpy series of sessions in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.
Investors will monitor a speech by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and watch shares of Dutch bank ABN Amro Group NV as they make their trading debut.
The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.3% to 381.99, with consumer goods, mining, and health care shares pushing higher. But energy, financial and industrial issues were struggling.
The pan-European index was moving toward a 3.3% rise for the week. That would be its best weekly performance in a month. Markets throughout the week, however, saw tough sessions for travel shares, in particular in the wake of a deadly terror attack in Paris that left at least 129 people dead.
Investors will watch for any comments by ECB chief Mario Draghi related to the impact of the attacks on the eurozone economy, as well as any further signals that the bank may ramp up stimulus efforts to bolster inflation in the region. Draghi began speaking at the European Banking Congress in Frankfurt at 10 a.m. London time.
In the spotlight Friday were shares of ABN Amro Group NV . They opened 2.4% higher at €18.18 from their initial public offering price at €17.75. That was just below the midpoint of a proposed range, valuing the state-owned Dutch bank at 16.7 billion euros ($17.9 billion)
link : http://stream.marketwatch.com/story/markets/SS-4-4/SS-4-88949/