European stocks climbed, rebounding from the biggest three-day selloff since July, as German industrial production increased more than forecast and investors awaited the start of U.S. earnings season.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index (SXXP) added 0.2 percent to 287.64 at the close of trading.

National benchmark indexes climbed in 13 of 18 markets in western Europe today.

FTSE 100 6,276.94 +27.16 +0.43% CAC 40 3,666.78 +3.30 +0.09% DAX 7,662.64 +3.89 +0.05%

Lundin rose 3.6 percent to 145.60 kronor, after saying the Luno II well, in which it owns a 40 percent stake, discovered oil-bearing sands with a 40 meter column of “good quality” crude. Pressure data showed a separate petroleum system to the nearby Edvard Grieg and Johan Sverdrup fields.

Premier Oil Plc (PMO), which has a 30 percent holding in Luno II, climbed 6.1 percent to 385 pence in London while Statoil ASA, which holds the remaining 30 percent, advanced 1.2 percent to 139.20 kroner in Oslo.

Cairn Energy Plc (CNE) gained 3.3 percent to 282 pence. Greenlight Capital Inc., the hedge fund founded by David Einhorn, raised its holdings in the oil explorer to 3 percent of voting rights, according to statement released on April 5.

United Internet AG rallied 4.3 percent to 19.36 euros after Morgan Stanley said the German broadband provider’s earnings will probably gain and its dividend may double by 2015.

Pirelli & C. SpA dropped 6.3 percent to 7.70 euros in Milan, the largest decline in almost 11 months. The tiremaker delayed a 2013-2017 business-plan presentation to November from May to help “provide better viability” on the economy. Pirelli said Europe’s debt crisis is having a “clear impact” on demand.

U.S. stock-index futures rose as investors awaited Alcoa Inc. (AA)’s financial release to mark the beginning of the earnings season.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  13,192.59 +358.95 +2.80%

Hang Seng 21,718.05 -8.85 -0.04%

Shanghai Composite 2,211.59 -13.70 -0.62%

FTSE  6,273.94 +24.16 +0.39%

CAC  3,687.96 +24.48 +0.67%

DAX 7,678 +19.25 +0.25%

Crude oil $93.23 +0.57%

Gold $1575.20 -0.04%

Downgrades:

Google (GOOG) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Pivotal Research

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan

European stocks climbed, rebounding from the biggest three-day selloff since July, before a report on German industrial production.

Data in Germany today may show industrial production climbed 0.3 percent in February, after stagnating the previous month, according to a Bloomberg survey of economists.

A gauge of European mining companies rebounded from a seventh week of losses today. Copper rose 1 percent on the London Metal Exchange after orders to remove the metal from warehouses climbed to the highest level since at least 1997.

Antofagasta, the copper producer controlled by Chile’s Luksic family, climbed 1.7 percent to 977 pence. Kazakhmys Plc rallied 2.5 percent to 374 pence and Eurasian Natural Resources Corp. added 4 percent to 252.8 pence.

Lundin rose 3.2 percent to 145.10 kronor, after saying the Luno II well, in which it owns a 40 percent stake, discovered oil-bearing sands with a 40 meter column of “good quality” crude. Pressure data showed a separate petroleum system to the nearby Edvard Grieg and Johan Sverdrup fields.

Premier Oil Plc, which has a 30 percent holding in Luno II, climbed 3.5 percent to 375.4 pence in London while Statoil ASA, which holds the remaining 30 percent, advanced 1.3 percent to 139.30 kroner in Oslo.

In Athens, National Bank of Greece plummeted 30 percent to 36.4 euro cents, the biggest move allowed, and Eurobank plunged 20 percent to 12 cents. Regulators put the banks’ planned merger on hold while they raise funds separately to avoid nationalization.

FTSE 100 6,269.34 +19.56 +0.31%

CAC 40 3,690.85 +27.37 +0.75%

DAX 7,690.9 +32.15 +0.42%

Asian stocks rose, with the Nikkei 225 Stock Average climbing to a 4 1/2-year high after the Bank of Japan’s unprecedented stimulus. Chinese and Taiwanese shares fell after more infections from a deadly new strain of bird flu.

Nikkei 225 13,192.59 +358.95 +2.80%

Hang Seng 21,743.38 +16.48 +0.08%

S&P/ASX 200 4,905.5 +14.07 +0.29%

Shanghai Composite 2,211.59 -13.70 -0.62%

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s biggest carmaker, gained 4.1 percent as the yen weakened to its lowest level since June 2009 and all but seven of the companies on the Japanese gauge advanced.

EVA Airways Corp., Taiwan’s second-largest carrier, slumped the most in 21 months in Taipei, dragging the nation’s equities benchmark to the biggest slump since June.