European stocks rise on trade talks and Brexit hopes

European stocks gained today, to extend gains for the third straight session to rise to a 1-week high, amid high sentiment thanks to signs of progress in the latest round of the US-China trade talks, in addition to a near solution on the horizon for the Irish border crisis  which is a major sticking point in negotiations for a Brexit deal.

Stoxx Europe 600 was higher by 1.1% as of 08:45 GMT,  ts highest level since October 2, while it closed yesterday higher by 0.7%, in its second straight daily gain.

The index opened today's session higher, to extend gains for the third straight session and hit a 1-week high, with most of the major European markets and sectors rising.

The European Tech sector saw the biggest gains today with a rise by more than 2.5%, as most tech stocks rose on positive signs about the trade talks.

President Trump described the current round of the trade talks as "a very, very good negotiation with China", and added that he and the Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will be speaking "a little bit later" at the White House.

After a meeting between British PM Boris Johnson and Irish PM Leo Varadkar, the latter said that they can see a possible pathway to an exit from the EU by a deal that in the interest of all by the end of this month.

S&P 500 futures rose by 0.6% today, as it closed higher by 0.6% yesterday at Wall Street, in its second straight daily gain.

The Euro Stoxx 50 index rose by 1.1%, in France the CAC 40 rose by 0.9%, and Germany's DAX rose by 1.5% to top the list of gainers in Europe. 

While in London the FTSE 100 fell by 0.2% unlike the upward trend in the rest of Europe due to a massive rise by the British pound which negatively affects the British exporters.