World equity markets got off to a solid start on Monday and the euro pulled away from parity as market participants scaled back bets on the Federal Reserve interest rate hike next week and on optimism spurred by central bank pledges to support China's economy.
U.S. stock futures were up more than 1% while European stock indices were a sea of green in a big week for the region.
The European Central Bank is set to raise rates for the first time in more than a decade on Thursday, the same day the bloc will be hoping Russia resumes gas supplies. Italy, meanwhile, is again in the grip of a political crisis. read more
The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) was up 1.3% by 1030 GMT after posting a 0.8% drop last week. Gains on Monday were broad-based and led by miners (.SXPP), energy stocks (.SXEP) and banks (.SX7P).
"It is a wild week this week, there is so much going on," said James Rossiter, senior global strategist at TD Securities.
"The ECB is a huge focus, there is not a lot of scope for the ECB to surprise, 25 bps is locked in I think... and then there is Italy and Nord Stream too."
Reuters
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