LONDON: European stock markets advanced at the start of trading Thursday following a mixed showing in Asia as fears ease over the banking sector.

London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 0.2 percent to 7,578.80 points.

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In the eurozone, Frankfurt’s DAX index grew 0.7 percent to 15,430.39 points and the Paris CAC 40 won 0.7 percent to 7,235.99.