Nikkei 14,393.11 +80.08 +0.56%

Hang Seng 22,535.94 +237.53 +1.07%

S&P/ASX 5,382.89 +26.64 +0.50%    

Shanghai Composite 2,135.41 +19.57 +0.92

S&P 1,838.63 +8.80 +0.48%

NASDAQ 4,244.03 +3.35 +0.08%

Dow 16,154.39 +126.80 +0.79%

FTSE 6,736 +72.38 +1.09%

CAC 4,335.17 -4.97 -0.11%

European stocks climbed after posting their biggest weekly gain this year, as telecommunications and mining companies advanced.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 0.4 percent to 334.50 at 4:33 p.m. in London. The gauge advanced 2.5 percent last week after the Federal Reserve said its stimulus policy will remain responsive to economic data and as companies from Renault SA to ThyssenKrupp AG reported profit that beat analysts’ projections.

National benchmark indexes advanced in 12 of the 18 western-European markets today. France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.2 percent and Germany’s DAX was little changed, falling less than 0.1 percent. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 rallied 1 percent.

SGL Carbon jumped 13 percent to 30.66 euros. German newspaper Handelsblatt reported that SGL Carbon and BMW, which owns a 15.7 percent stake in the company, are investing more than 100 million euros ($137 million) to double carbon-fiber production to 6,000 tons a year.

BMW slipped 1.3 percent to 84.85 euros.

MorphoSys added 1.5 percent to 64.43 euros. The German biotechnology company said it received a milestone payment from Novartis for its application to start the first phase of human testing for an anti-inflammatory treatment.

Luxottica Group SpA climbed 1.6 percent to 39.48 euros. Chief Executive Officer Andrea Guerra said he won’t join the new Italian government and will remain at his job at the world’s largest maker of eyeglasses.

European stocks advanced after posting their biggest weekly gain this year. U.S. stock-index futures and Asian shares rose.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 0.4 percent.

“In the short-term, speculative froth has been removed,” said Benedict Goette, chief executive officer of Compass Capital AG in Zurich, which helps oversee about 700 million Swiss francs ($785 million). “We are currently looking for another little up-leg into March or so. Today looks like a calm day, with U.S. markets closed.”

The Stoxx 600 advanced 2.5 percent last week after the Federal Reserve said its stimulus policy will remain responsive to economic data and as companies from Renault SA to ThyssenKrupp AG reported profit that beat analysts’ projections.

SGL Carbon jumped 11 percent to 30.36 euros. German newspaper Handelsblatt reported that SGL Carbon and BMW, which owns a 15.7 percent stake in the company, are investing more than 100 million euros ($137 million) to double carbon-fiber production to 6,000 tons a year. BMW slipped 0.8 percent to 85.28 euros.

MorphoSys added 3.2 percent to 65.51 euros. The German biotechnology company said it received a milestone payment from Novartis and projected initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial for an anti-inflammatory treatment.

Luxottica Group SpA climbed 2 percent to 39.63 euros. Chief Executive Officer Andrea Guerra said he won’t join the new Italian government and will remain at his job at the world’s largest maker of eyeglasses.

FTSE 100 6,735.59 +71.97 +1.08%

CAC 40 4,340.5 +0.36 +0.01%

DAX 9,675.14 +12.74 +0.13%

Asian stocks rose, with a regional benchmark index poised to advance for the eighth time in nine days, after China’s new credit increased to a record in January, boosting optimism the world’s second-largest economy can maintain its growth momentum.

Nikkei 225 14,393.11 +80.08 +0.56%

S&P/ASX 200 5,382.89 +26.64 +0.50%

Shanghai Composite 2,135.41 +19.57 +0.92%

China Life Insurance Co., the nation’s biggest company in the sector, jumped 7.2 percent after UBS AG and Credit Suisse Group AG raised their ratings on the stock.

Newcrest Mining Ltd., Australia’s biggest gold producer, advanced 3.6 percent as bullion prices rose to a three-month high.

Rakuten Inc., an Internet retailer controlled by billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani, dropped 9.5 percent in Tokyo after announcing plans buy the Viber online messaging and calling service for $900 million.