European stocks hit 2-week high amid focus on central bank meetings

European stocks rose on Tuesday, to head for the third straight daily gain, hitting a 2-week high on improved market sentiment thanks to positive news about coronavirus vaccines, amid anticipation of the results of upcoming central bank meetings in the US and the UK.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.5% as of 11:12 GMT, and hit the highest since September 3 at 371.28 points, after it closed higher by 0.2% yesterday, thanks to a strong rally by travel and leisure stocks.

The pan European index opened higher today, to head for the third straight daily gain, and hit a 2-week high, with most of the major European markets and sectors seeing green today.

The retail sector saw the largest gains in Europe today, rising over 1.5%, after the world's second largest fashion retailer revealed better-than-expected profits for the second quarter.

AstraZeneca has resumed the phase 3 of the clinical trials on its candidate coronavirus vaccine, after the trials were suspended last week due to safety concerns.

Global markets are anticipating this week the results of central bank meetings in the US and Britain, especially for insight over the future of the monetary policy easing plans to address the damages of the coronavirus pandemic.

S&P 500 futures rose over 0.8%, after the index closed higher by 1.3% yesterday at Wall Street, in its second straight daily gain.

Back to Europe, the Euro Stoxx 50 index added 0.6%, France's CAC 40 rose 0.5%, Germany's DAX added 0.3%, and the UK's FTSE 100 rose 1.1%.