European stocks advanced, paring their biggest weekly decline since November, as the region’s commodity producers rebounded from a 3 1/2-year low.

National benchmark indexes climbed in 15 of the 18 western- European markets. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 rose 0.7 percent, while France’s CAC 40 climbed 1.5 percent. Germany’s DAX retreated 0.2 percent. Italy’s FTSE MIB Index increased 1.8 percent, while Portugal’s PSI 20 Index jumped 2.6 percent.

ENRC surged 27 percent to 291 pence after Alexander Machkevitch said he may form a consortium with fellow shareholders Alijan Ibragimov, Patokh Chodiev and the Kazakh government to make an offer for ENRC.

Kazakhmys Plc, which owns a 26 percent stake in ENRC, soared 24 percent to 385.7 pence.

Anglo American Plc gained 2.2 percent to 1,596.5 pence after reporting that first-quarter production at its Kumba Iron Ore Ltd. unit in South Africa increased 2 percent from a year earlier. The metal producer also said that its output of metallurgical coal for export rose 23 percent, while copper production climbed 1 percent.

L’Oreal gained 4.3 percent to 126.40 euros in Paris after the world’s largest cosmetics maker reported a 5.1 percent increase in first-quarter revenue to 5.93 billion euros ($7.8 billion) as demand for luxury brands helped counter weakness in professional products. The average of six estimates compiled by Bloomberg had called for sales of 5.85 billion euros.

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA rose 2.1 percent to 123.30 euros after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. added the luxury- goods maker to its conviction buy list, saying the stock’s underperformance presented an opportunity to invest. The shares fell 8 percent from April 15 through yesterday after the company reported the slowest growth in sales of fashion and leather products since 2009.

U.S. stock futures rose as Google Inc. (GOOG) and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) reported earnings that topped analysts’ forecasts.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  13,316.48 +96.41 +0.73%

Hang Seng 22,013.57 +501.05 +2.33%

Shanghai Composite 2,244.64 +47.04 +2.14%

FTSE  6,263.69 +20.02 +0.32%

CAC  3,632.46 +33.10 +0.92%

DAX 7,469.52 -4.21 -0.06%

Crude oil $88.02 +0.33%

Gold $1406.40 +1.00%

Upgrades:

Вщцтgrades:

Other:

Apple (AAPL) initiated at Buy at Standpoint Research, target $480

Verizon (VZ) target raised to $59 at Argus, reiterated Buy

Google (GOOG) target raised to $890 from $830 at Canaccord Genuity, reiterated Buy

Google (GOOG) reiterated at Buy at Needham, target raised from $850 to $900

Google (GOOG) reiterated at Perform at Oppenheimer,  target raised from $765 to $820

Europeans stocks advanced, paring their biggest weekly selloff since November, as the region’s commodity producers rebounded from a 3 1/2-year low. U.S. index futures and Asian shares also climbed.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index (SXXP) added 0.5 percent to 285.09 at 8:35 a.m. in London. The gauge has slipped 2.6 percent so far this week, its biggest drop in five months, as commodities fell amid worst-than-forecast economic data from China and the U.S.

BHP Billiton added 1.6 percent to 1,800.5 pence as the world’s largest commodity producer dragged a gauge of mining companies from its lowest level since July 2009.

Anglo American gained 2.2 percent to 1,597 pence after reporting that iron ore, coal and copper output increased in the first quarter.

L’Oreal advanced 2.5 percent to 124.20 euros after the world’s largest cosmetics maker reported a 5.1 percent increase in first-quarter revenue to 5.93 billion euros ($7.8 billion) as demand for luxury brands helped counter weakness in professional products. The average of six estimates compiled had called for sales of 5.85 billion euros.

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (MC) SA rose 0.7 percent to 121.65 euros after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. added the shares to its conviction buy list, saying their underperformance presented a “compelling opportunity.” The company reported on April 15 the slowest growth in sales of fashion and leather products since 2009.

At that moment:

FTSE 100 6,279.05 +35.38 +0.57%

CAC 40 3,641.2 +41.84 +1.16%

DAX 7,509.32 +35.59 +0.48%

Asian stocks rose, paring this week’s losses, as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. led technology shares higher and mining companies rebounded.

Nikkei 225 13,316.48 +96.41 +0.73%

S&P/ASX 200 4,931.9 +7.48 +0.15%

Shanghai Composite 2,244.64 +47.04 +2.14%

TSMC, as the biggest contract maker of chips is known, jumped 6.6 percent in Taipei after forecasting record quarterly sales.

Rio Tinto Group, the world’s No. 2 mining company, climbed 4.3 percent in Sydney after a six-day, 11 percent decline.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd., the world’s No. 1 lender by market value, rose 3.2 percent amid speculation China will widen the yuan’s trading band next week.

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 13,220.07 -162.82 -1.22%

Hang Seng 21,490.56 -79.11 -0.37%

S&P/ASX 200 4,924.4 -80.15 -1.60%

Shanghai Composite 2,197.6 +3.81 +0.17%

FTSE 100 6,243.67 -0.54 -0.01%

CAC 40 3,599.36 +0.13 0.00%

DAX 7,473.73 -29.30 -0.39%

DJIA 14,537.10 -81.45 -0.56%

S&P 500 1,541.61 -10.40 -0.67%

NASDAQ 3,166.36 -38.31 -1.20%