Euro zone trade balance rose on seasonal basis to 16.1 billion euros in April, down from 18.7 billion euros, revised to a rise of 18.1 billion euros a month ago.

Without seasonal adjsutments, the bloc`s trade balance rose 14.9 billion euros, also down from 22.9 billion euros, revised to revised 22.5 billion euros in March.

European stocks opened higher Monday, rebounding from last week`s losses as investors awaited clues whether the Federal Reserve might exit its quantitative easing program this week.

- Stoxx Europe 600 rose 1.78 points or 0.61 percent to 292.91

- Stoxx Euro 50 added 19.62 points or 0.74 percent to 2,665.24

Volatility is still the main theme across the broad stock market ahead of the Fed`s two-day policy meeting, while heads of the eight leading countries (G-8) meet in Northern Ireland today and tomorrow.

However, equities across Asia and U.S. stock-index futures drew support from high expectations that the Fed will keep its benchmark interest rate at its record low of 0.0 percent to 0.025 percent this week.

On the bigger front, government officials and central bankers from the world`s eight major powers, headed by the United Kingdom, will meet in Ireland to tap hot topics from tax evasion to bank secrecy.

- British FTSE 100 was up 0.51 percent to 6,340.25

- French CAC 40 gained 0.88 percent to 3,838.76

- German DAX rose 0.97 percent to 8,206.68

Asian stocks advanced with the start of the week, ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve two-day meeting that covenes on Tuesday. Market participants will focus on this meeting as it might show the direction of the central bank stimulus plans.  

The performance of the Japanese equities and the Asian stocks in general improved today as investors expect that the Feds will gradually stop its stimulus in light of the positive data released by the U.S. economy, especially the labor sector, which increased optimism over the ability of the U.S. to withstand a cut in stimulus.  

Meanwhile, news that the International Monetary Fund cut its forecasts for growth of the American economy in 2014 to 2.7% from 3% failed to trigger concerns across the Asian markets especially in light of the weaker yen and the need for a correction following last week`s sharp losses.  

The MACI Asia Pacific Index rose 1.3% to 132.43, after the index was down 3% in the past two weeks amid expectations that central banks refuse to continue their stimulus plans, which might reduce the chances of recovery for many economies around the world.  

The Japanese Topix rose 2.68% to close at 1084.72 points, after rising as much as 28.27 points. As for the Nikkei 225 it rose 2.73% or 346.60 points.  

In Australia the S&P/ASX500 rose 0.71% or 34.13 points closing at 4825.88 points. Stock in New Zealand also rose where the NZX 50 index closed at 4447.64, up by 0.60% or 26.66 points.  

As for the Chinese index, it traded negatively today, where the CSI 300 Index fell 0.54% after losing 12.93 points to close at 2403.84, while the Shanghai Index fell 0.25% to lose 5.43 points lower closing at 2156.21 points.  

The South Korean Kospi fell today by 0.32% loosing 6.14 points closing at 1883.10 points, amid concerns expressed by South Korea`s central bank of a decline in growth rates as a result of a weaker yen which has been falling since the beginning of the year, thus weakening the competitiveness of the nation`s exports.