European stocks up as investors assess Chinese restrictions ‎easing

European stocks rose in early trade on Wednesday and the FTSE 100 outperformed its peers after a long Christmas weekend as investors assessed Beijing’s steps towards reopening its Covid-hit economy.

According to “Reuters”, the Stoxx 600 index of European shares rose 0.3 percent by 0809 GMT, while the Financial Times 100 index increased by 0.9 percent, with the rise of commodity-related shares and shares of companies with exposure to China. The British market has been closed since it opened for only half a session on Friday

Mining stocks jumped in early trading as copper prices rose, thanks to hopes of a recovery in demand from the world’s second-largest economy, after China on Monday eased more of its strict anti-Covid restrictions.

Dealers and analysts said that the meager trading volumes also affected market movements.