A Greek flag waves outside the Athens Stock Exchange. The ATG share index surged 2.2% yesterday after Athens reached a deal with its lenders.

Reuters
London

European shares rose sharply yesterday, helped by encouraging updates from companies such as Germany’s United Internet and Dutch-based Randstad, the world’s second-biggest staffing company.
Sentiment was also improved by expectations of more stimulus from the European Central Bank and by Greece’s preliminary deal with its international lenders on home foreclosures.
Randstad shares rose 5.5%, the top gainer in the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index, after the company said sales had accelerated since it reported third-quarter results and that it expected higher margins in 2016.
United Internet rose as much as 4.5% after reporting a rise in third-quarter core profit and revenues as the number of subscribers continued to rise. The stock was last up more than 2%.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index was up 2%, rising for a second day and shrugging off a flattish start at Wall Street. French shares were up 2%, after falling 0.1% on Monday following Friday’s Islamist militant attacks in Paris
that killed at least 129 people.
Lorne Baring, managing director of B Capital Wealth Management, said despite mounting worries over security in Europe investors were showing resilience to the Paris attacks, expressing confidence of prospects for European shares.
“Overall there is a macro tailwind for European equities. The monetary policy of the ECB will continue to weaken the euro versus other major currencies. We are continuing to recommend an overweight in European equities.”
Expectations of further ECB stimulus were bolstered yesterday after ECB’s chief economist and executive board member Peter Praet told Bloomberg that an environment of weak price pressures in the medium term remained and the governing council will discuss whether there is a case for further action in the context of heightened uncertainty.
“Praet’s latest comments reinforce the view that the central bank is soon going to provide some further stimulus measures to boost the region’s economy. Sentiment is further improved by a weaker euro, which is going to help European exporters,” said Koen De Leus, senior economist at KBC in Brussels.
“Greece’s preliminary deal with its international lenders on home foreclosures reform is also good news for the market. It ensures no unsettling news for the financial markets from the Greek side in the short term.”
Greece’s ATG share index surged 2.2% after Athens reached a deal with its lenders, easing an impasse in its bailout programme to unlock fresh loans. Volatile Greek banks however turned lower.
European stocks dealing in the defence and military sectors also rose, as France launched new strikes on targets in Syria. BAE Systems rose 1.8%, Airbus advanced 3.2% and Meggitt progressed 2.1%.
Shares in easyJet, however, fell 3.5% despite the company saying it was confident of future growth. The airline ordered 36 additional Airbus A320 aircraft after reporting an 18% jump in annual profit helped by strong demand for summer holiday travel.
“From a broader perspective, airport taxes and higher costs remain a threat, whilst the shocking events of the weekend are a stark reminder of the exogenous factors with which the airline industry has to deal,” Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Richard Hunter said.