European stocks gain as investors look for further lockdown easing
European markets traded higher Monday as investors await central bank meetings this week that could decide further stimulus measures to reboot economies deeply damaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 climbed 1.5% in early deals, with banks adding 3.2% to lead gains as all sectors and major bourses entered positive territory.
Corporate earnings remain high on the trading agenda in Europe. Deutsche Bank shares surged 10.3% to lead the Stoxx 600 in early trade. The German lender on Sunday said it expects to report net income of 66 million euros ($71.56 million) for the first quarter of 2020, compared with 201 million euros in the first quarter of 2019.
Adidas on Monday predicted that sales will fall by 40% in the second quarter, as the impact of the coronavirus takes hold. The German sportswear giant on Monday reported a 19% decline in net sales for the first quarter from the year before. Adidas shares nonetheless advanced by 3.5% in early trade.
German pharmaceutical company Bayer saw its shares gain 3.3% after the coronavirus pandemic pushed its first-quarter sales and earnings higher.
