European stocks close higher with EU economic growth

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - European stock markets closed higher on Friday with positive investor sentiment amid EU economic growth in first quarter of 2021.

Gross domestic product rose 5.2% in the EU this January-March from the same quarter last year, according to an earlier flash estimate by the EU statistical office.

Quarter-on-quarter growth came in at 0.4%, Eurostat said.

The STOXX Europe 600, which includes around 90% of the market capitalization of the European market in 17 countries, rose 3.32 points, or 0.74%, to finish at 450.39 points.

London's FTSE 100 gained 35 points, or 0.47%, to 7,544.

Germany's DAX 30 added 118 points, or 0.84%, to end the day at 14,097, while France's CAC 40 rose 25 points, or 0.39%, to close at 6,533.

Italy's FTSE MIB gained 196 points, or 0.82%, to 24,252.

Spain's IBEX 35 was the top performer of the day, increasing 72 points, or 0.85%, to end the day at 8,584.