Markets

European stocks climb at open; London up 0.38 percent

Published Updated

Frankfurt's DAX 30 index advanced 0.47 percent to 7,028.92 points and in Paris the CAC 40 won 0.44 percent 3,565.65.

Asian equities mostly rose Wednesday after the Dow on Wall Street hit a more than four-year high, with sentiment boosted as the US Federal Reserve gave an upbeat economic outlook while leading US banks passed key stress tests.

Traders were following the lead of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which jumped 1.68 percent to 13,177.68 -- its best finish since December 31, 2007 -- thanks to a string of good news.

The US central bank, following its monthly policy meeting Tuesday, upgraded its view of the world's number one economy, saying the jobs market and consumer and business spending had improved since January.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2012