European stocks rise near 9-month high as week wraps up

European stocks rose in early trading on Friday, near a 9-month high after two days of small sell-off and profit-taking, but trading remains calm so far while on track for the fourth straight weekly gain, thanks to improved risk appetite.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.2% as of 08:40 GMT, after it closed lower by 0.2% yesterday on profit-taking from the highest since February of 393.68 points.

The pan European index opened higher today, as the week wraps up near a 9-month high, with most of the major European markets and sectors seeing green.

Trading remains in European markets, as the US stock markets are scheduled to reopen for only half a session, after the Thanksgiving holiday yesterday.

European stocks gained 1% so far during this week, on the cusp of the fourth straight weekly gain, thanks to strong market sentiment and improved risk appetite.

President Donald Trump on Monday gave the green light for the transition of power to the president-elect Joe Biden's team, and ordered his current team to cooperate with the new administration.

S&P 500 futures rose more than 0.5%, after the index closed lower by 0.2% on Tuesday on Wall Street, and posted its first loss in three sessions on profit-taking.

Back to Europe, the Euro Stoxx 50 index rose 0.3%, France's CAC 40 rose 0.4%, and Germany's DAX rose over 0.2%. 

While the UK's FTSE 100 fell 0.5%, deepening its losses for the third consecutive session as investors await further updates on the upcoming trade talks between Britain and the European Union.