Europe open: Stocks rise despite mixed German data

European stock regained their upward momentum on Tuesday morning, with the Stoxx 600 index rising 0.2% despite some mixed data from economic powerhouse Germany.

The Stoxx 600, at 519.15, has now gained 6.6% since 5 August, having registered just three daily declines over the past three weeks.

The FTSE 100 was the standout performer in morning trade, rising 0.7% as the index resumes trading after a Bank Holiday on Monday. Gains across the rest of the continent were only around 0.1-0.2%.

The final reading of second-quarter German GDP was revised higher, with the year-on-year change improving to 0% from -0.1% in the second quarter, better than the flash reading of -0.1% released last month. Quarter-on-quarter growth however remained at -0.1%, after the economy expanded by 0.2% in the first three months of the year.

Meanwhile, German consumer sentiment is expected to deteriorate sharply in September, according to a survey released on Tuesday by GfK and the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM). The consumer sentiment index fell to -22 from a revised -18.6 in August, coming in below expectations for a reading of -18.2.

Rolf Buerkl, consumer expert at NIM, said that slightly rising unemployment rates, an increase in corporate insolvencies and staff reduction plans at various companies in Germany are causing employees to worry about their jobs.

In corporate news, Bunzl was a high riser in London, jumping more than 10% after the distribution and outsourcing company upgraded its full-year guidance and launched a share buyback programme.

Zurich airport operator Flughafen Zuerich fell 5% after first-half results came in below expectations, even as passenger traffic forecasts for the full year were lifted.