European stocks advanced, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbing the most in more than a month, as U.S. and U.K. markets reopened following a public holiday.

The Stoxx 600 increased 1.3 percent to 308.23 at the close of trading, extending its rally this month to 3.9 percent. The gauge has climbed for 12 consecutive months, its longest winning streak since 1997. The equity benchmark has rallied 10 percent so far in 2013, its best start to a year since 1998, as central banks around the world maintained a combination of monetary stimulus and low interest rates.

National benchmark indexes rose in every western-European market except for Greece and Iceland. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 surged 1.6 percent. France's CAC 40 rose 1.4 percent and Germany's DAX advanced 1.2 percent.

AstraZeneca climbed 2.7 percent to 3,521.5 pence. The company agreed to buy the U.S. developer of an experimental treatment for patients with high levels of triglycerides, a contributory factor to heart attacks and strokes. AstraZeneca's cholesterol-lowering drug, Crestor, will face competition from generic treatments in the U.S. from 2016.

Victrex surged 8.4 percent to 1,765 pence. The U.K. maker of heat-resistant plastics for the auto, energy and health-care industries raised its interim dividend by 15 percent to 10.35 pence per share. Revenue climbed 1 percent in the first half to 106.4 million pounds ($160 million) from a year earlier.

Aixtron jumped 7.8 percent to 13.57 euros, its highest price in more than a year. Natixis raised the stock to buy from neutral, citing a rebounding LED industry that the company should benefit from.

Cie. Financiere Richemont SA, the owner of the Cartier brand, added 3 percent to 91.65 francs. Switzerland's watch exports increased 5.7 percent in April from a year earlier, the country's Federal Customs Offices said today.

Stock index futures rose as supportive comments from central banks around the world reassured investors that monetary policies designed to support the global economy would remain in place.

On Monday, ECB Executive Board member Joerg Asmussen said the policy would stay as long as necessary. On Tuesday, BOJ board member Ryuzo Miyao said it was vital to keep long- and short-term interest rates stable.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 14,311.98 +169.33 +1.20%

Hang Seng 22,924.25 +238.20 +1.05%

Shanghai Composite 2,321.32 +28.24 +1.23%

FTSE 6,769.28 +114.94 +1.73%

CAC 4,051.49 +56.33 +1.41%

DAX 8,477.72 +94.42 +1.13%

Crude oil $95.13 +1.04%

Gold $1378.80 -0.56%

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Boeing (BA) target raised to $116 from $102 at RBC Capital Mkts

European stocks advanced, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbing the most in more than three weeks, as U.S. and U.K. markets reopen following a holiday. U.S. index futures and Asian shares also gained.

The Stoxx 600 increased 1.3 percent to 308.13 at 10:49 a.m. in London, extending its rally this month to 3.9 percent. The gauge has climbed for 12 consecutive months, its longest winning streak since 1997. The equity benchmark has rallied 10 percent so far this year, its best start to a year since 1998, as central banks around the world maintained their monetary stimulus.

A separate release at 13:00 GMT may show that house prices increased in March. The S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values in 20 cities gained 1 percent in March, according to the median forecast of economists. That would mean house prices have climbed 10.2 percent from a year earlier, their biggest jump since April 2006. The measure rose 1.2 percent in February.

AstraZeneca (AZN) climbed 3.3 percent to 3,541 pence. The company agreed to buy the U.S. developer of an experimental treatment for patients with high levels of triglycerides, a contributory factor to heart attacks and strokes. AstraZeneca's cholesterol-lowering drug, Crestor, will face competition from generic treatments in the U.S. from 2016.

Victrex advanced 5 percent to 1,710 pence. The U.K. maker of heat-resistant plastics for the auto, energy and health-care industries raised its interim dividend by 15 percent to 10.35 pence per share. Revenue climbed 1 percent in the first half to 106.4 million pounds ($161 million) from a year earlier.

Aixtron jumped 4.5 percent to 13.15 euros for the largest two-day advance in more than a month. Natixis raised the stock to buy from neutral, citing a rebounding LED industry that the company should benefit from.

Cie. Financiere Richemont SA, the owner of the Cartier brand, added 2 percent to 90.80 francs. Switzerland's watch exports increased 5.7 percent in April from a year earlier, the country's Federal Customs Offices said today.

FTSE 100 6,765.1 +110.76 +1.66%

CAC 40 4,054.24 +59.08 +1.48%

DAX 8,476.72 +93.42 +1.11%

Asian stocks rose, ending a five-day losing streak for the regional equities benchmark, as a weakening yen boosted the earnings outlook for Japanese exporters and China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. surged after saying it will buy its parent's assets.

Nikkei 225 14,311.98 +169.33 +1.20%

S&P/ASX 200 4,970.7 +10.84 +0.22%

Shanghai Composite 2,317.14 +24.07 +1.05%

China Taiping, the first overseas-listed Chinese insurer, jumped 13 percent in Hong Kong. Toyota Motor Corp., the world's biggest carmaker, climbed 4.9 percent in Tokyo.

Toho Holdings Co. lost 5.3 percent as the Japanese maker of medical equipment said it will raise funds to reinvestment in capital.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. sank 6 percent, leading Japanese utilities lower.

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 14,142.65 -469.80 -3.22%

S&P/ASX 200 4,959.9 -23.60 -0.47%

Shanghai Composite 2,292.36 +3.82 +0.17%

FTSE 100 Closed

CAC 40 3,995.16 +38.37 +0.97%

DAX 8,383.3 +77.98 +0.94%

Dow Closed

Nasdaq Closed

S&P Closed