European stocks surged the most in six months after the European Central Bank held its benchmark interest rate at a record low and said it’s ready to act if necessary as the growth outlook dims.

ECB President Mario Draghi said officials are ready to add more stimulus to the euro region’s economy if necessary, while damping expectations that another round of three-year funding for banks is imminent.

National benchmark indexes climbed in all 17 western European markets that were open. Germany’s DAX rose 2.1 percent, while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 gained 2.4 percent in its first day of trading this week after a two-day holiday for the royal jubilee. France’s CAC 40 also rallied 2.4 percent.

A measure of mining companies climbed the most of the industry groups on the Stoxx 600 after copper rose in London. Copper miners Kazakhmys Plc and Vedanta Resources Plc advanced 7.4 percent to 714.5 pence, and 9.1 percent to 963.5 pence, respectively.

Lloyds Banking Group Plc rose 5.2 percent to 27.05 pence after agreeing to sell 809 million pounds of Australian corporate real estate loans to a Morgan Stanley and Blackstone Group LP joint venture for about 388 million pounds in cash.

Royal Ahold NV paced declining shares, falling 4.2 percent to 9.18 euros after the owner of Stop & Shop grocery stores reported first-quarter earnings that missed estimates.

U.S. stocks rose, sending benchmark indexes toward their biggest gains in 2012, on speculation global policy makers will act to revive a slowing economy.

Stocks rose for a third day after the S&P 500 fell as much as 9.9 percent from this year’s peak in April amid concern about a global slowdown. Earlier this week, the index traded at 12.9 times reported earnings, the cheapest valuation in six months, according to data.

Equities gained as European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said officials stand ready to act as the euro region’s growth outlook worsens. Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta PresidentDennis Lockhart said extending Operation Twist, the program to lengthen maturities of debt on the central bank’s balance sheet, is an “option on the table.” The Fed will publish its Beige Book survey of business conditions in 12 national districts today.

All 10 groups in the S&P 500 rose today as commodity, financial and technology shares had the biggest gains. Bank of America (ВАС) increased 7.5 percent, the most since January, to $7.46. Caterpillar (САТ) added 3.3 percent to $86.37, while Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) jumped 2.9 percent to $22.31.

Iron Mountain Inc. surged 10 percent, the most in the S&P 500, to $31.35. The document-storage company approved a plan to convert to a real-estate investment trust and increased its quarterly dividend by 8 percent.

Chesapeake Energy jumped 7.2 percent to $18.22. The energy explorer, facing a $22 billion cash-flow shortfall after natural-gas prices touched a decade low, is discussing selling its entire stake in Chesapeake Midstream Partners LP and other pipeline assets, said two people with knowledge of the matter. The negotiations may lead to a deal within days and could also fall apart, the people said.

Home Depot (HD) rose 2.8 percent to $50.29. The timing of its share repurchases will not have a material impact on the diluted earnings per share in that period, the Atlanta-based retailer said today in a statement.

Resistance 3:1334 (area of May 29-30 highs)

Resistance 2:1318 (May 31 high)

Resistance 1:1305 (МА (200) for Н1)

Current price: 1301.50

Support 1:1288 (session low)

Support 2:1265 (Jun 4 low)

Support 3:1240 (50,0 % FIBO 1070-1420)

U.S. stock futures pared gains as European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said the economic outlook in the euro area faces increased downside risks.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 8,533.53 +151.53 +1.81%

Hang Seng 18,520.53 +261.50 +1.43%

Shanghai Composite 2,309.55 -2.36 -0.10%

FTSE  5,311.31 +51.12 +0.97%

CAC  3,017.23 +31.13 +1.04%

DAX 6,016.89 +47.49 +0.80%

Crude oil $84.99 (+0.83%)

Gold $1635.70 (+1.18%)

Asian stocks rose, with the MSCI Asia-Pacific Index heading for its biggest two-day advance in five months, as reports showed Australia’s economy expanded twice as fast as economists estimated and U.S. service industries grew.

Nikkei 225 8,533.53 +151.53 +1.81%

S&P/ASX 200 4,055.3 +11.61 +0.29%

Shanghai Composite 2,302.53 -9.39 -0.41%

Westfield Group, the world’s biggest shopping center operator by assets, advanced 3.5 percent in Sydney. Sharp Corp., Japan’s largest maker of liquid-crystal displays, rose 6.9 percent.

Tokyo Derica Co., which sells women’s leather handbags, surged 17 percent after canceling a share sale.

Resistance 3: Chf0.9770 (Jun 1 high)

Resistance 2: Chf0.9675/95 (area of Jun 4-5 high)

Resistance 1: Chf0.9630 (low of the American session on Jun 5)

The current price: Chf0.9599

Support 1: Chf0.9575 (Jun 5 low)

Support 2: Chf0.9555 (May 29 low)

Support 3: Chf0.9525/35 (May 24-28 lows)

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 8,382 +86.37 +1.04%

S&P/ASX 200 4,043.7 +58.67 +1.47%

Shanghai Composite 2,313.22 +4.67 +0.20%