EU stocks advance as economies reopen despite protests erupt across the U.S.

European stocks advanced on Monday as lockdown measures ease across the continent, while protests continue throughout the U.S. following the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, last week.

London’s FTSE 100 added 1.4% in early trade while France’s CAC 40 climbed 1.5% and Italy’s FTSE MIB gained 1.3%. Markets are closed in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland for a public holiday.

The biggest mover across the European indices was Italy’s Mediobanca, which surged 11% in early trade after billionaire Leonardo Del Vecchio confirmed that he had requested permission from the European Central Bank (ECB) to take up to a 20% stake in the bank.