European stocks advanced for a fourth straight day on Friday, boosted by optimism over strong export data from China and a round of upbeat corporate results. Mining companies helped propel the index higher on Friday, after China said its exports jumped 7.9% in January, up from a 6.1% drop in December. As China is a major user of natural resources, any hint of strong economic growth in the country tends to buoy the commodity sector.

U.S. stock-market indexes registered fresh records Friday and posted a third straight weekly gain, as investors focused on President Donald Trump's pledge to move quickly on changes to the tax code-which has the potential to deliver a jolt to corporate earnings. Friday's record closes come a day after all three main indexes closed at all-time highs, after Trump promised to announce a "phenomenal" tax policy in a few weeks.

Global stocks kicked off the week on a positive note, with markets in Asia extending gains, as recent actions by President Donald Trump helped soothe investor worries about ties between the U.S. and its key Asian trading partners. At a joint appearance over the weekend with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump said that the "United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100%," following the launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea that landed in the Sea of Japan.