European stocks erased their decline in the final half an hour of trading, leaving the Stoxx Europe 600 Index at a five-year high, as U.S. equities rebounded after Congress agreed to extend the American government’s debt limit.

The Stoxx 600 added 0.1 percent to 315.98 at the close, rebounding from a decline of as much as 0.6 percent. The equity benchmark rose to its highest level since June 2008 yesterday on optimism U.S. lawmakers would reach a deal to reopen the government and increase the debt ceiling.

In the U.S., President Barack Obama signed into law a measure to extend the nation’s borrowing authority into early 2014 and end the government shutdown that started Oct. 1. The deal avoided a default and means that federal workers will return to their jobs from today.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose as high as 1,726.15, above its record close on Sept. 18.

Dagong Global Credit Rating downgraded the U.S. to A- from A and reiterated its negative outlook on the government of the world’s largest economy. The rating company said the U.S. will struggle to avoid repeating this week’s political impasse over the limit on sovereign debt, according to a statement.

National benchmark indexes climbed in 10 of the 18 western-European markets. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 gained 0.1 percent and France (CA)’s CAC 40 dropped 0.1 percent, while Germany’s DAX declined 0.4 percent.

Sulzer fell 4.4 percent to 132.20 Swiss francs after predicting that 2013 sales will probably not exceed the 4.02 billion francs ($4.5 billion) generated in 2012. The pump manufacturer predicted slight growth for revenue this year when it reported half-year results on July 23. That was a downgrade from an earlier forecast for moderate growth.

Outotec slumped 15 percent to 8.23 euros. The Finnish company forecast that it will generate no more than 2.1 billion euros ($2.9 billion) in sales in 2013 because its order intake has declined in the first nine months of this year. Outotec had predicted revenue of as much as 2.3 billion euros.

Nutreco NV slid 4 percent to 36.26 euros after the world’s largest supplier of fish feed forecast earnings before interest, taxes and amortization of about 255 million euros in 2013. The company had predicted it would at least match last year’s 262.1 million euros.

U.S. stocks fell as Congress lifted the debt limit and International Business Machines Corp. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. tumbled amid declining revenues.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 14,586.51 +119.37 +0.83%

Hang Seng 23,094.88 -133.45 -0.57%

Shanghai Composite 2,188.54 -4.53 -0.21%

FTSE 6,548.57 -23.02 -0.35%

CAC 4,219.39 -24.33 -0.57%

DAX 8,778.29 -67.71 -0.77%

Crude oil $101.23 -1.04%

Gold $1314.00 +2.47%

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Travelers (TRV) downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Guggenheim

Bank of America (BAC) downgraded from Strong Buy to Outperform at Raymond James

Other:

American Express (AXP) target raised to $82 from $80 at FBR Capital

eBay (EBAY) reiterated with Outperform at RBC Capital Mkts, target lowered from $64 to $59

IBM (IBM) reiterated with Sector Perform at RBC Capital Mkts, target lowered from $205 to $195

European stocks fell from a five-year high as companies from Sulzer (SUN) AG to Outotec Oyj lowered their financial targets, while a Chinese rating company downgraded the American government’s debt. U.S. index futures also retreated, while Asian shares rose.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index lost 0.3 percent to 314.71 at 10:24 a.m. in London as more than two stocks dropped for every one that climbed. The equity benchmark rose to its highest level since June 2008 yesterday on optimism U.S. lawmakers would reach a deal to reopen the government and increase the debt ceiling.

In the U.S., President Barack Obama signed into law a measure to extend the nation’s borrowing authority into early 2014 and end the government shutdown that started Oct. 1. The deal avoided a default and means that federal workers will return to their jobs from today.

Dagong Global Credit Rating downgraded the U.S. to A- from A and reiterated its negative outlook on the government of the world’s largest economy. The rating company said the U.S. will struggle to avoid repeating this week’s political impasse over the limit on sovereign debt, according to a statement.

Sulzer fell 4.8 percent to 131.70 Swiss francs after predicting that 2013 sales will probably not exceed the 4.02 billion francs ($4.4 billion) generated in 2012. The pump manufacturer predicted slight growth for revenue this year when it reported half-year results on July 23. That was a downgrade from an earlier forecast for moderate growth.

Outotec slumped 12 percent to 8.58 euros. The Finnish company forecast that it will generate no more than 2.1 billion euros ($2.9 billion) in sales in 2013 because its order intake has declined in the first nine months of this year. Outotec had predicted revenue of as much as 2.3 billion euros.

Nutreco NV slid 3.9 percent to 36.27 euros after the world’s largest supplier of fish feed forecast earnings before interest, taxes and amortization of about 255 million euros in 2013. The company had predicted it would at least match last year’s 262.1 million euros.

FTSE 100 6,562.46 -9.13 -0.14%

CAC 40 4,224.01 -19.71 -0.46%

DAX 8,803.35 -42.65 -0.48%

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index headed toward a five-month high, after the U.S. Congress voted to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling.

Nikkei 225 14,586.51 +119.37 +0.83%

Hang Seng 23,149.27 -79.06 -0.34%

S&P/ASX 200 5,283.1 +20.19 +0.38%

Shanghai Composite 2,188.54 -4.53 -0.21%

Nissan Motor Co., which gets about 34 percent of its car sales from North America, gained 2.2 percent in Tokyo.

Kansai Electric Power Co. added 2.8 percent after the Japanese utility reported an unexpected first-half profit.

Boral Ltd. advanced 5.9 percent after USG Corp. agreed to pay the Australian company as much as $575 million to form a jointly owned building-materials business spanning Asia and the Middle East.

Nikkei 225 14,467.14 25,60 0,18%

Hang Seng 23,228.33 -108,19 -0,46%

S & P / ASX 200 5,262.91 +3.76 +0.07%

Shanghai Composite 2,193.07 -40.34 -1.81%

FTSE 100 6,571.59 +22.48 +0.34%

CAC 40 4,243.72 -12.30 -0.29%

DAX 8,846 +41.56 +0.47%

Dow 15,373.83 +205.82 +1.36%

Nasdaq 3,839.43 +45.42 +1.20%

S&P 500 1,721.54 +23.48 +1.38%