European stocks moderately extend early gains after better-than-expected German data indicating a recovery and the Greek announcement that the country is going to pay a 450 million euro to the International Monetary Fund.

Data on Industrial Production in Germany, Eurozone's biggest economy, came in at +0.2% in February, beating expectations for an increase of +0.1%. In January Industrial Production grew +0.6%. Year on year the Industrial Production shrank -0.3% compared to a previous reading of +0.9%.

In the U.K. the Halifax House Price Index for March rose +0.4% compared to -0.3%. In the first quarter the index rose by +8.1%.

U.K.'s Total Trade Balance for February came in at .2.85 compared to -0.62 in January. Trade in Goods showed a larger deficit. The index has a reading of -10.3 for February, below estimates of -9.1 and a previous reading of -8.4.

The commodity heavy FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.67% quoted at 6,983.86 points. Germany's DAX 30 is trading at 12,096.28 points +0.50%. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,181.30 points, +0.87%.